Hotel Designs

Twenty-five years after opening as the first, true international luxury hotel in the capital, the Grand Hyatt Taipei is on the verge of yet another début as one of the most sophisticated, urban hotels in East Asia.The Grand Hyatt Taipei is celebrating its Re-Launch April 23 after a top-to-toe renovation that fleshed out the hotel from its concrete bones. Each of the property’s 853 rooms and suites was stripped to the fundamentals, redesigned and rebuilt.

“With this re-launch, in terms of rooms and restaurants, we’re now a brand new property,” said Kai Speth, the hotel’s general manager. “But with a 25 year history in this same location, we’re also the most seasoned hotel in the city. We’ve got the best of both worlds.”

Baths clad in half-square-meters of marble, sophisticated lighting, muted colours, goose down duvets, deep-soaking tubs, ample windows, textured walls, suites that feel like apartments, and rooms that elicit surprise and a wow from guests are hallmarks of the the Grand Hyatt’s brand new day in Taipei.

The hotel’s guest rooms range in size from 33 and 40 square meters at the grand deluxe level to more than 83 square meters in an executive suite. The new presidential suite commands more than 221 square meters and offers up storybook views of the iconic Taipei 101 Tower.

Beyond the rooms, the all new Grand Hyatt Taipei is trumpeting two completely new restaurants, a Chinese restaurant, Yun Jin, and a Western venue, The Steakhouse, each a completely new concept and a ground-up build. Yun Jin’s début was in February. Work on the Steakhouse begins later this year.

Likewise, the Club Lounge is an all new experience. High counters cultivate opportunities for convivial breakfasts with fellow travellers while window-side alcoves preserve a certain measure of privacy. A new, open show kitchen whets appetites for Eastern and Western comfort food all morning long.

As a complement to the hotel’s substantial changes in hardware, its software has undergone a similarly dramatic transformation as the property asserts itself as a happening hub. In recent months, the hotel has hosted a boxing event, a European Christmas fair and flash mob dance.

The new, less formal vibe at the hotel is evident at check-in. Where hotel staff once greeted guests from one side of a high, grandiose counter, staff and guests gather at any of five low slung desks for a less officious introduction.

“It’s much less of a ‘you and I’ experience,” said Speth, “and much more of a ‘we’re all here together.’ These are very subtle gestures, but a hotel relies on its mostly finely tuned details to create its most memorable effects.”

Beyond check-in, the lobby replaced its souvenir shop with Baguette, a bakery and gift shop designed to stimulate more social interaction as guests resort to a new seating area. Where a business centre catered to men and women at work, a new retail shop invites more casual interaction.

What hasn’t changed in the lobby is its grandeur. The elegant space remains the only grand lobby in Taipei. In front of the hotel, a dramatic pruning has pared back a certain cultivated guardedness and opened up the hotel to casual inspection and passive invitation.

“We’re a part of this community, and we want the design, the colours and the layout to say exactly that,” said Speth. “If the boost in local traffic is any indicator, and I think it is, we’ve done just that.”

This Haute Couture address was inaugurated on March 5th at an exceptional evening reception, unveiling the breathtaking interior design by Didier Gomez and a new restaurant run by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno.A couple of days into Paris Fashion Week, the rue du Faubourg St Honoré lit up to celebrate the inauguration of the Sofitel Paris le Faubourg. Guests included journalists and international bloggers as well as Paris celebrities such as Chantal Thomas, Vincent Darré and Jean-Claude Jitrois. This must-attend event delighted 600 guests who sampled Sofitel signature cocktails and the restaurant menu.

This brand new address is unquestionably a flagship establishment for Sofitel in France. The refurbishment, which started in 2014, has yielded a luxurious setting that is authentic and intimate. We give you a guided tour.

The tone is set as soon as you step into the hotel. The graded shades of white, beige, grey, black and gold are surprisingly modern and warm. Designer Didier Gomez has achieved his aim of injecting new life into the reception lobby, now transformed into a vibrant living space.

In the entrance, a superb photograph by Cathleen Naundorf for Christian Dior attracts your gaze. The classical and contemporary furnishings are reminiscent of Paris’ luxury hotels and fashion houses. The establishment boasts a strong and unique identity in tune with its epoch.

A vision for the eyes
The visit continued along the corridors, where connoisseurs will be delighted by the display of magnificent photos that are a tribute to femininity. The fashion muses have been immortalized by photography’s great names, Horst P. Horst, Chaloner Woods and Irving Penn. This fashion portfolio is a reminder of the hotel’s proximity to the famous fashion houses and of the history of this exclusive building, which was home to the editorial team of Marie-Claire magazine in the 90s.

We went on to visit some of the Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg’s 147 rooms and light-filled suites which offer guests a gentle, welcoming setting. Everything reflects the spirit of Parisian luxury, from the pale color schemes to the velvet and satin fabrics used for the bead covers. While we’re on the subject of bedding, the brand’s aficionados will recognize MyBed, the uniquely designed Sofitel bed that provides absolute comfort.

The 17m Chesterfield couch has been installed in the lounge. The trees are throwing their shade on the deck of the outdoor living room next to the Olympic-length lap pool. The stairwell graffiti shimmies up towards the rooms and the staff are ready and smiling. Welcome to chic central, aka Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn.

After three years of preparation and construction the people of Pretoria can now don their designer labels and start visiting this dramatic and extraordinary hotel which has made such a striking impression on Capetonians and Joburgers, who have embraced this sociable, forever-young brand with happy abandon.

“With every Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! property the Protea Hotels group opens, we have pushed the envelope on style and have set trends. Pretoria is no different. We think the people of Pretoria will welcome the opening of this new city hotspot with as much enthusiasm as we do,” said Mark Satterfield, Marriott International Business Leader in South Africa.

The hotel sets a new standard for stylish hospitality in Tshwane with its seamless indoor/outdoor social spaces and its on-trend interior tone. But the hotel’s real draw card will be the wide variety of event offerings, tailor-made for the Pretoria audience.

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn’s General Manager Johan Cronje says the hotel is conveniently situated next to the Menlyn Park shopping mall and close to the N1, making it an obvious place for people to gather.

The residents of Pretoria will no longer have to wait for their Cape Town holiday or a trip to Jozi to enjoy the unique food and beverage concepts, which continue to create talkability due to the extensive milkshake flavours and gourmet burgers. This new hotel has taken the concept further to include gourmet pizzas which will have a Fire & Ice! twist to them in terms of flavour and presentation.

“But there’s so much more to the hotel than these popular food and beverage offerings. Wine, brandy and whiskey connoisseurs will be very happy with the selection available in the bar. Our Executive Chef, Genghis San has some delightful surprises up his sleeve for food lovers, and the list of events we have planned is very different to anything the people of Pretoria have come to know, ” said Cronje.

Satterfield said: “Pretoria is a young, exciting city that simply doesn’t get its dues. Protea Hotels recognised that there is a lively set of young-at-heart, ambitious movers and shakers in Pretoria whose choices for playing hard after working hard are pretty limited. Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn fills a gap we believe our GUESTS have been waiting for for years.”

HISPEC 2015, the annual face-to-face forum focused on Hotel Interior Design/ Hospitality Interiors will take place in the Grand Hotel Dino***** in Lago Maggiore, Italy from 23-26 June.This event will hold the top Hospitality Interiors Industry’s Executives: Buyers, Specifiers, Manufacturers and Suppliers from Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Every year, more than 50 decision-makers buyers and specifiers meet and network, during 3 days, with suppliers for the industry in a different venue in the Europe, Middle-East and Africa region.

The buyers and specifiers that attend are from the main hotel chains or the design firms in charge of the largest hospitality projects, they are all carefully selected and have confirmed projects.

HISPEC is limited to a maximum of 175 participants and takes place behind closed doors -only registered buyers and suppliers can attend the event.

How does it work?
– 3 days
– Pre-scheduled face-to-face meetings
– Product exhibition in the meeting room (no stand)
– Entirely organised from beginning to end
– Networking and teambuilding activities
– Maximum attendance: 175 delegates
– The whole event is held behind closed doors

The advantages?
– Only decision makers attend
– You know beforehand who attends
– You can select the meetings according to your interests
– Get 1 year worth of work done in 3 days
– 50 potential clients at your fingertips
– They all have short, medium and long-term projects
– Meet key people who don’t attend other events or tradeshows
– You don’t have to travel all around EMEA: meet everyone in one point
– You establish personal relationships with all possible clients

The disadvantages?
– It involves an attendance cost
– 72 intensive hours of work
– Follow up work after the event
– ROI depends on you and your product
– You can’t exhibit as much product as in traditional tradeshows

For more information about how the event works and what delegates normally attend, you can watch last year’s video here:

For more information you can visit our website www.hispec.es, or send an email to Claudia Cherigny: Claudia@madisonevents.com

The latest bathroom brochures from Crosswater, Simpsons & Bauhaus are available to download from www.crosswater.co.uk.Also, we have launched the NEW Crosswater Contracts website (www.crosswater-contracts.co.uk) where you can download the Specification catalogue, which contains mainly WRAS approved or pending taps & showers, together with bathroom furniture / shower doors and accessories chosen by fellow professionals for contracts.

Have you visited our amazing showroom in Dartford as yet? The showroom is not open to the public, but by appointment only. Please email or call to arrange a meeting.

David Balmer
Hospitality Senior Projects Consultant
+44 (0) 77 17 78 02 34
david.balmer@crosswater.co.uk

Stylish new boutique beachfront resort Manathai Khao Lak promises a new take on Thai tourism.

With a focus on a more authentic local experience, (all guests are greeted with a traditional Thai water blessing), Manathai Khao Lak offers breath-taking natural beauty, including wide stretches of pristine beaches, elephant treks, waterfalls, canoeing in stunning Phang Nga Bay and world-renowned diving, it epitomises the very best of Thailand’s natural beauty and rich culture. Just a 90 mins drive north of Phuket Int’l Airport, on Bangsak Beach, Manathai Khao Lak sits on a perfect stretch of unspoiled coastline with uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea. The hotel’s 158 chic and contemporary rooms are beachfront and surrounded by lovely and manicured gardens; it’s a delightful boutique alternative to the straining tourist resorts that take up much of the mainland.

Additionally, its beachfront restaurant, Pad Thai, celebrates one of Thailand’s most iconic and best-loved dishes, by offering traditional Thai dishes inspired by iconic Thai street food including 22 different and delectable variations on the traditional Pad Thai.

Like the other Manathai-managed properties, Manathai Khao Lak introduces guests to a visually captivating and culturally vibrant destination, as well as a stylish and charming resort inspired by the surrounds and flavours. Moreover, it’s affordable and accessible luxury; the property is offering special opening rates starting from just 99 pounds including daily breakfast for two people in a Deluxe Balcony room until 30 April 2015.

“Manathai Hotels & Resorts understands that individual travellers, families and couples want to engage with a destination on their own terms,” Manathai Hotels & Resorts Chief Operations Officer, Christoph Berger said. “They crave individuality, choice and authenticity – and that’s what we deliver.”

Manathai Kids offers activities for children and families to learn and have fun together and facilities include a swimming pool, a fitness centre, a 24-hour reception and concierge service, 24-hour security, complimentary Wi-Fi, room service, in-room dining, an on-call doctor, a private library, a private airport transport service, motorbike and car rental, a childcare service, and an activities and tour service. It also boasts a unique meeting space for up to 30 guests, while it has a team of expert event planners who can stage the perfect sunset beach wedding.

Leading bathroom brand Roca presented a raft of new products and innovations at ISH 2015, with design and functionality combining throughout. With brassware playing a fundamental role in the bathroom both aesthetically and practically, much of the focus on the Roca stand in Frankfurt centred on a number of new taps and showers that combine the very latest technology with design-led appeal.

Three new brassware collections were unveiled, Atlas, L90C and Lanta, all of which will make a stylish addition to any washbasin. The mixers also have a wealth of technology concealed within their elegant design. Helping to reduce the amount of water used unnecessarily in the home, the mixers have a built-in flow limiter, whilst Roca’s Cold Start function also helps to save energy.

Another brassware highlight unveiled at ISH was a host of new showering solutions which combine comfort with ergonomics. With its extra-slim design, the Raindream showerhead garnered much attention throughout the show. Suitable for wall or ceiling installation, the sleek and minimal design of Raindream ensure this will be a statement piece in the contemporary wetroom or bathroom.

Visitors to ISH 2015 also enjoyed a preview of the new Inspira collection from Roca. Due to launch to the UK market in 2016, Inspira is an innovative range of sanitaryware available in three shapes which respond to modern bathroom trends – Round, Soft and Square – all of which can be combined in a number of ways to create an individual finish. Inspira also features washbasins made from FINECERAMIC®, Roca’s exclusive new ceramic material which allows more precision, sophisticated design details and shapes which were previously not possible.

This much-anticipated collection also includes a rimless toilet, with Roca now including this increasingly popular option on a number of its existing sanitaryware ranges too, including The Gap and Debba. This new generation of hygienic WCs are designed to provide a perfect flushing performance with low water consumption.

Technology is also having a huge effect on the future of the WC, as was highlighted with Roca’s Smart Toilets on show at ISH 2015. With intelligent and fully customisable features, this integrated shower toilet is designed to be an important part of the user’s daily hygiene routine.

We are proud to announce the opening of Hotel Sant Francesc, in Palma de Mallorca. A former manor house belonging to a noble Mallorquin family is now a luxury boutique hotel. Behind the beautiful façade lies 42 rooms and signature suites where an illustrious team of architects and designers have created an oasis within the historic city centre. Dining options include Quadrat Restaurant and Garden or you may enjoy refreshments in the Lobby and Patio Bar, as well as 24-hour room service.

In addition, the Singular Rooftop Terrace is the perfect place to enjoy refreshments while lounging at the pool, or provides a place to sip a glass of cava watching the sunset over the city at the magic hour.

The wellbeing centre offers treatments that can help bring your mind, body and spirit back into balance.

Alternatively, the gym provides the latest equipment for the perfect workout.

Our board room can hold up to 20 for meetings, but can also be used for private dining.

Unpretentious yet elegant, the hotel offers the opportunity to enjoy luxurious accommodations and the best gastronomy in the centre of Palma.

Travelodge has recently opened its second hotel in Wembley and 62nd hotel in the capital, Tuesday 31st March. The new 86-room hotel represents a £6.5 million investment and has been built above Wembley Central train station in partnership with St Modwen.An opening ceremony was held at London Wembley High Road Travelodge where Barry Gardiner Member of Parliament for Brent North for the 2010 to 2015 Parliament and the Mayor of Brent, Councillor Kana Naheerathan joined Travelodge’s Revenue Director, Tom Edwards to officially open the hotel.

London Wembley High Road Travelodge is part of a £90million mixed-use development programme by St Modwen which has involved transforming the area surrounding Wembley Central Station. This entailed part of the old station building being demolished and new residential apartments, retail units and the new Travelodge hotel being built.

This opening which is the Company’s 518th hotel has created 20 new jobs within the local community. The strong team of 20 have been employed via Travelodge’s long term relationship with The Job Centre – which helps the long term unemployed back into work.

London Wembley High Road Travelodge has been designed in the Company’s new contemporary brand look and design. All rooms feature the bespoke luxurious king-size Travelodge Dreamer Bed and family rooms include individual Truckle beds for the children. See notes to editors for full details of the new room)

Travelodge opened its first Wembley hotel in 2006 and as part of its ongoing commitment to grow its business within the area, the hotel chain has recently invested £1.1 million modernising this hotel as part of its £100 million UK hotel modernisation programme. To date, Travelodge has modernised 90% of its rooms in its new brand design across the UK. In addition all Travelodge beds throughout the country have been upgraded to the new Travelodge Dreamer Bed.

Tom Edwards, Travelodge’s Revenue Director said: “We have experienced growing demand for good value accommodation in Wembley for some time and we are delighted to being opening our second Wembley hotel in such a prestigious location. Being located at Wembley Central train station provides our customers with easy access to Wembley stadium and to central London.”

“By offering great quality rooms at unbeatable value we will help attract new visitors to the area. This will help to boost the local economy by £1.8million annually and cement our position as Britain’s favourite hotel brand for value.”
London Wembley High Road Travelodge is being managed by Jessica Jackson, who started her career as a receptionist at Uxbridge Travelodge in 2008 while she was studying for her degree in Business Management and Accounting at Brunel University. Once Jessica graduated she joined Travelodge full time and soon graduated from the company’s Gaining Entry into Management (GEM) programme, which fast tracks entry level staff into management. Jessica took over her first management post at Balham Travelodge.

Jessica Jackson, London Wembley High Road Travelodge Hotel Manager said: “I am thrilled to be managing this brand new Travelodge hotel in the centre of Wembley. The hotel has got off to a flying start and we are nearly full for the big events happening at Wembley Stadium over the coming months such as: the NFL & Rugby World Cup and music events like Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran & AC/DC.”

Luxury fabric specialist, Kobe UK, will be showcasing its latest collections from Kobe and Essente at May Design Series on May 17-19. The Kobe collections include the contemporary and chic Aurora, inspired by urban Nordic lifestyles and suitable for window décor and upholstery. It is available in an extensive colour palette and comprises a range of high satins, sumptuous velvets, intricately patterned jacquards and laser cut fabrics.

City Chic, inspired by Hollywood’s Golden Age, reflects the lavish glitz and glamour reminiscent of this style period. The 11-design collection includes opulent velvets, fluid satins, woven jacquards and dobbies plus faux silk and leather, suitable for upholstery and soft furnishings. It also features plains in trendy colours, patterns ranging from traditional pied de poulé to fantasy animal skin and natural fabrics incorporating metallic yarns. The vivacious style lends itself to those who dare to set trends.

Paying homage to the French Napoleonic Empire style period, Brissac features sumptuous plain and fine powder printed metallic velvets in a range of intricate patterns including toile de jouy florals, medallions and Greek and Roman inspired ornaments. Available in seven distinct but complementary designs, the colour palette reflects the Empire period, ranging from ecru and beige to pastel tints and shades of gold and brown.

Having enjoyed a successful year after its introduction, Essente has launched its newest series of curtain fabrics. The collection comprises products in contemporary chic style and colours. The new additions are a mixture of patterns, textures and basics in natural and accent colours.

David Harris, managing director of Kobe UK, said: “The May Design Series provides an important platform for us to showcase our Kobe and Essente brands.

“The popular and very exclusive Fabric Pavilion offers a leisurely and comfortable environment for potential new clients to view textiles.

“Last year, we made a number of new contacts in the high end residential and contract markets and we are looking forward to extending our reach even further at this year’s show.”

London ExCel 17-19 May 2015
Stands: FAB 2, 3, 19 and 20

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the Crowne Plaza® Panama Airport hotel. Strategically located near Tocumen International Airport and with a US $20 million investment by owner and operator Bern Hotels & Resorts, the new-build 144-room hotel is the first brand property in Latin America to be built less than a mile away from an airport. Gerardo Murray, Regional Vice President, Distribution and Commercial Marketing, Mexico, Latin America and Caribbean, IHG said: “Bern Hotels & Resorts owns four existing IHG properties in Panama, including the InterContinental® Miramar Panama, InterContinental Playa Bonita Resort & Spa, Crowne Plaza Panama and Holiday Inn® Panama Canal hotels, and we are thrilled to open a fifth hotel with this long-standing franchisee. Bern has an outstanding reputation for delivering quality projects in stellar locations, and we believe that the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport property will be a great success.”

With an innovative and modern design, the Crowne Plaza Panama Airport hotel offers a variety of unique services and amenities to cater to the on-the-go business traveller, including airport shuttle service, outdoor swimming pool, and 24-hour fitness and business centres. It also features the brand’s new “Always On” enhancements that are focused on connectivity, wellness and productivity with new technology offering single Internet sign-on, free and reliable Wi-Fi, and easy access to power outlets and charging cords. An Energy Essentials Wellness Station with healthy snacks and drinks coupled with the brand’s Sleep Advantage® program will help guests stay energized and balanced to perform at their best. The comprehensive Crowne Plaza meetings program, which includes a two-hour response guarantee to request for proposals, a dedicated meetings director and a daily meeting debrief will also complement the multifunctional meeting spaces available at the hotel.

The hotel has a wide selection of dining options at its two on-site restaurants. The Jetstream, located at the main lobby of the hotel serves delicious dishes, ranging from breakfast and lunch buffets to à la carte dinners in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. The Hub Bar & Grill is the perfectplace to meet with colleagues and friends and enjoy cocktails and snacks after a long work day.

Following on from an exciting 2014, GALLERY DIRECT has made a bold start to the New Year with the launch of an impressive range of new products across their brands to offer an even better one-stop-shop for their clients. Carrying on Frank Hudson’s heritage of producing fine furniture, Gallery have simplified the offer, updating designs and finishes whilst maintaining the superb traditional craftsmanship for which Frank Hudson is renowned. The key product areas are bedroom, luxury dining and occasional furniture, all beautifully constructed and meticulously hand finished to give excellent quality. All items are now priced to hit compelling retail price points.

New additions to the Hudson Living brand, which was launched last year at the May Design Series Furniture Show, extend Gallery’s furniture offering. Combining Gallery’s design-led ethos with the Frank Hudson heritage of quality and attention to detail, this contemporary brand offers on-trend pieces that complement the rest of Gallery’s catalogue to make a comprehensive and cohesive offering.

Within the Gallery Home brand, new mirrors and soft furnishings for 2015 extend Gallery’s catalogue still further. As expected from Gallery, all these items are design-led quality products, introduced into the range to add more choice for customers.

In total over 350 new SKUs have been introduced to Gallery’s already extensive catalogue, to give over 1000 quality products in total. Coupled with impressive stock and delivery infrastructure, this offers a compelling proposition for clients.

+44 (0) 17 95 43 91 59
Click here to contact Gallery Direct: http://www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Mercure Bradford, Bankfield Hotel has recently undergone an extensive quarter of a million pound ground floor refurbishment to transform the hotel. The renovation also includes the redesign of two of its largest event spaces, The Ballroom On The Park and The Park Suite, to provide the ideal setting for all occasions.Set in a 19th century mansion surrounded by landscaped gardens, Mercure Bradford, Bankfield Hotel’s recent renovation and redesign of the ground floor and two rooms includes new lighting, carpets and drapes plus a brand new sophisticated colour scheme. The hotel’s public areas have been transformed too including the restaurant, club bar, foyer, listed stairwell and reception area, presenting a brand new image for the historic hotel.

Interior designer Helen Hooper of HH Interiors, who has previously worked with Jupiter Hotels on renovation projects across the UK, comments on the project: “The new Ballroom On The Park and The Park Suite designs include muted colour schemes of soft taupe and grey, complimented with zesty lime accents. There are stunning silk striped drapes, twinkling chandeliers and crystal wall lights to create a sense of elegance and sophistication, providing the ideal backdrop for any function.”

The Ballroom On The Park provides the perfect location for weddings with its large windows and exquisite views overlooking the River Aire. The magnificent ballroom can accommodate from 60 – 350 guests for civil ceremonies and up to 200 guests for a wedding reception.

For a more intimate gathering, The Park Suite creates the perfect backdrop with private access to the gardens. The suite can accommodate 40 – 85 guests for civil ceremonies and up to 100 guests for a wedding reception.

Commenting on the refurbishment, hotel General Manager John Horvath said: “We are delighted with the transformation of the ground floor areas including The Ballroom On The Park and The Park Suite. We are very proud of the hotel’s heritage and the new design concept attributes to this, combining tradition with a contemporary edge. Our hotel offers everything guests need to create the perfect wedding or event setting and our expert team are on hand to provide a tailored service to all guests and help make their dreams become reality.”

Located in the heart of Yorkshire Bronte country, the hotel dates back to 1848 as a former home for the Lord Mayor of Bradford and creates the perfect romantic setting for a wedding. From an intimate gathering to an extraordinary affair, the hotel has experts on hand to create bespoke packages to suit every guest. Plus, there are tailored menu choices to choose from.

Shane Harris, CEO Jupiter Hotels, added: “The investment demonstrates our continued commitment to the growth and transformation of our portfolio in the UK. It’s an exciting time for the midscale hotel market and with the right investment, hotels like Mercure Bradford, Bankfield Hotel can be given a new lease of life.”

The Ballroom On The Park can also host up to 350 conference delegates and The Park Suite can accommodate up to 100 delegates – both offer complimentary high speed WiFi.

Mercure Bradford, Bankfield Hotel sits in the Aire Valley with stunning scenic views surrounding the entire hotel. The hotel is a stone’s throw away from Saltaire, the famous Victoria model village and there are great road networks to the whole of West Yorkshire. Local attractions also include the Bingley Railway Station and the Haworth & Bronte Parsonage Museum.

GROHE’s Essence tap range is now more simple and stylish than ever. By building the tap around the new 28 mm cartridge, GROHE has been able to slim down its appearance, enhancing the range’s cylindrical and sophisticated shape. Slim shape, stylish design
GROHE’s Essence range makes sophisticated purist design affordable. The range includes four wash basin taps sized from small (S) to extra-large (XL), with the small version being the slimmest of all GROHE taps currently on the market. All Essence products share a similar look, allowing consumers to co-ordinate an entire bathroom effortlessly. Essence mixers have been tested with numerous washbasin combinations, and the results can be found on the GROHE BestMatch™ website or app, pairing together perfect tap and basin combinations.

Balancing comfort and sustainability
The new range is a great choice for sustainability. All Essence single-lever mixers for washbasins incorporate cartridges equipped with integrated temperature limiters, and the range also features a GROHE EcoJoy® mousseur which reduces water flow volume without compromising on performance. For additional energy savings, the S-sized model is available with GROHE SilkMove® ES technology to prevent hot water being used when not needed. To ensure splash-free operation, the larger taps come with a swivel spout and an adjustable GROHE AquaGuide mousseur, which can be pitched at an angle to deliver water exactly where the user needs it. GROHE’s QuickFix® Plus system ensures straightforward and time-saving installation.

Rich choice of variants
Other variants for washbasins include 3-hole or 2-hole combinations and wall-mounted mixers with various sized spouts, to match an assortment of washbasins. The range also features concealed and exposed fixtures for tubs and showers, 3-hole and 4-hole tub combinations as well as a free-standing tub filler.

The GROHE Essence line: combining minimalist, stylish design with great performance, available from June 2015.

This upholstery fabric in Trevira CS is a heavy and hard-wearing upholstery fabric in a basket weave, available from Creation Baumann.The colour palette of 50 shades is diverse and ranges from classic to contemporary. Cross dying of a foundation weave which comes in three different colours ensures that the range encompasses rich tones alongside soft light and dark mottled tones.

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, the distinctive sophisticated brand of Marriott International, has announced that its new hotel, JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa has soft opened ahead of its grand opening celebration on 24 June 2015. The 250-room property was designed in collaboration with award-winning Italian architectural firm Matteo Thun & Partners and combines the very best in contemporary hotel design with the heritage and elegance of its premiere location on its own private island, Isola delle Rose (Rose Island). The hotel buildings have been sensitively refurbished by Matteo Thun & Partners to incorporate sustainable, modern and elegant design, bringing the historic buildings and parklands of Isola delle Rose back to life as a world-class urban resort. A destination in itself, the hotel will offer an unparalleled resort experience with facilities that include an extensive spa, rooftop infinity pool and four restaurants including the fine dining Italian restaurant, Dop0lavoro Dining Room.

Guests can choose from five distinct accommodation experiences, each offering a unique ambience and view – The Hotel with its 191 guest rooms, most with wide glass walls and private balconies overlooking the extensive cultivated gardens beyond. La Residenza, (opening late April) with its 12 guest rooms designed in a fresh Mediterranean style, featuring parquet flooring in soft earthy tones that lead out to private gardens by the spa and lagoon. L’Uliveto (opening late April) presents a rural garden setting with its 26 guest rooms and views over the ancient olive groves. La Maisonette (opening late April) offers 20 split level suites all with private patios and gardens and some with pools overlooking the canal, olive groves and church. Lastly La Villa Rose, an exclusive private retreat with two bedrooms set in a private garden with a pool.

With over 40 acres (16 hectares) to explore, guests can discover numerous gardens and outdoor areas scattered with landscaped spots for quiet contemplation. Fruit arbours, olive groves and cultivated plots provide fresh ingredients for the property’s diverse food and drink offerings, including a cooking school and wine academy. Restored structures scattered around the island house a range of facilities including a picturesque events space in an original church.

In keeping with JW Marriott’s refined but informal ethos and commitment to personalised service, the 1,750-metre spa, operated by GOCO Hospitality will open by early May and will be the largest in Venice, offering both bespoke treatments and a range of classic spa rituals from product houses including !QMS Medicosmetics and Amala. It also has an indoor and outdoor aqua-tonic pool, a health club, eight treatment rooms, a hammam and luxury spa suite.

Additional hotel facilities include a kid’s club and dedicated family pool, water sports such as Venetian rowing and sailing and a sensational rooftop pool offering dramatic views across the lagoon to St. Mark’s Square, which can be reached by private boat in just fifteen minutes.

In your opinion, is design for “bobos” (bohemian bourgeois) or intellectuals? Would you be prepared to forgo a restaurant outing or your next holidays so you could treat yourself to a designer item? The question is, are we all talking about the same thing when we talk about design? It’s such a subjective issue that it’s difficult to establish a universal definition for it. We associate it with the notions of “stylishness”, “graphic design” and of course “decorating” and “interior design”. As part of its drive to make the world of design accessible to as many people as possible, until May 13th 2015, ibis Styles is running a totally connected operation on instagram: #captureibisstyles. To mark its launch, the brand is providing unprecedented insight into how people view design in France and six other countries.

• Half the people surveyed believe that the principal aim of a designer object is to “surprise”.
• For over two-thirds of the French, the world of design is best represented in furniture items.
• 45% of the people surveyed associate design with a fashion or trendy concept.
• More than half of Brazilians hope and even dream of being able to treat themselves to a designer object one day.
• 53% of French refuse to pay more for a designer object.

ibis Styles or design for everyone
ibis Styles, the brand of economy hotels with unique personalities and multiple designs of Accor, has endeavoured to study and shed light on the way the notion of design is viewed and interpreted in seven countries.

To do so, the brand, which has over 270 hotels around with world, each with their own distinctive styles, surveyed groups of 300 people (half men and half women) representative of the populations in France, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Italy, United Kingdom and Poland, or a total of 2,100 individuals. Their views, desires, expectations, and more, were all analysed exhaustively in order to decipher and understand how they relate to the world of design.

And the timing is perfect because, in all the countries that were surveyed, design and economy hotels are two, perfectly compatible worlds! Topping the list were the Brazilians, with 90% of them approving the combination of these two worlds.

Design, a multi-faceted concept
Design is perceived as something emotional that is tied in with sentiment and pleasure. Half the people surveyed believe that the principal aim of a designer object is to “surprise”. In fact women are more receptive to designer objects, with 52.5% of them declaring so, compared with 45.9% of the men. 41% of the people surveyed, all countries included, agreed that design creates value through the aesthetic appeal it contributes to an object. 36% of the British also associate design with usefulness.

The survey reveals that design is materialized and represented in different ways from one culture and country to another. For over two-thirds of the French, the world of design is best represented in furniture items. 40% of the English see design through the prism of architecture. Spaniards see it more in terms of one’s look and 36% of them associate it with ready-to-wear fashion. Lastly, 53% of the Germans believe it is present in everyday objects.

45% of the people surveyed associate design with a fashion or trendy concept. For 94% of them, elegance is one of its key characteristics.

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Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® has announced that its game-changing Aloft brand has arrived in New Orleans, following the completion of an adaptive re-use project that transformed a historic building in the city’s Central Business District. The hotel is controlled by 225 Baronne Complex Subtenant, LLC, an affiliate of HRI Properties, LLC, and managed by HRI Lodging, LLC, Aloft New Orleans Downtown features 188 spacious, loft-like rooms, an active social scene and innovative brand-led programming. Located at 225 Baronne Street, Aloft New Orleans Downtown anchors a new mixed-use complex within walking distance to New Orleans’ iconic Bourbon Street, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, numerous offices, and the many jazz clubs, bars, and boutiques in the famed French Quarter. The signature W XYZ® bar is the perfect place for guests to enjoy a refreshing cocktail and catch the latest up-and-coming music acts as part of the brand’s signature Live At Aloft Hotels music series. Additional hotel amenities include an outdoor Splash pool, 24-hour fitness center and 2,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, ideal for both business meetings and social gatherings. Fast and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the entire hotel.

The mixed-use building also includes residences on floors 18 through 30 with separate dedicated entrance and elevator, as well as separate amenities. The project is one of several successful adaptive re-use projects for the Aloft brand in cities across North America including Aloft Orlando Downtown, Aloft Tulsa Downtown, Aloft Dallas Downtown, Aloft Detroit at the David Whitney, and Aloft Tampa Downtown.

The Aloft brand’s innovative and exclusive initiatives set it apart. Aloft Hotels recently announced the launch of SPG Keyless—an evolution of Aloft’s Smart Check-in— the hospitality industry’s first mobile, keyless entry system allowing guests to use their smart phone as a key. The technology is available at select Aloft, Element and W Hotels worldwide. This forward-thinking initiative is part of the brand’s innovative DNA. Additionally, every Aloft Hotel around the world offers live, free access to local emerging artists as well as some of the hottest bands with Live at Aloft Hotels programming at the W XYZ® bars.

Britannia is the new flagship of the P&O fleet with the distinctive red, white and blue of the Union Flag on her bow. Christened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in March 2015, the £473 million 141,000 tonne, 1,837 cabin ship is the largest ever purpose-built for the British market and is the largest vessel in the P&O fleet. With the ability to carry up to 3,647 passengers in considerable luxury at a cruising speed of 22 knots, the ship has an extremely ‘British vibe’, due to the input of Directory design company, Richmond International who coordinated the interior design. Our visit was made just prior to her maiden cruise around the Mediterranean.The First Impression
We started our tour in the Atrium – the centre of the ship – on Deck 3. The circular Atrium goes up three decks and is dominated by the impressive ‘Starburst’. Here the Starburst, an eight metre high sculpture made of 280 polished aluminium shards, reflects the light from its 320 coloured LEDs around the whole area to provide a special sparkle. There was ample comfortable seating including intimate areas for groups of friends if required. The Market Café delicatessen and the Blue bar (piano bar) could be pleasant areas to meet, eat and drink with friends during the cruise. Also here, a little more hidden away, was the ship’s reception area.

Décor in public areas included marble, chrome, glass, leather and wood grain finish with understated shades of nautical blue and cream along with soft grey, highlighted in gold and silver. All was very reminiscent of a boutique hotel lobby.

Restaurants
The Britannia has 13 restaurants and cafes, some of which are included in the price and some which require an additional charge. In the main restaurants (Meridian, Peninsular and Oriental) the five to six course menus include classic dishes and Marco Pierre White specials on gala nights. P&O has also retained its popular and flexible Freedom dining option, which provides for guests to turn up and dine informally. The alternative is of course Club Dining, which means traditional, fixed­time seating at 6:30 pm or 8:30 pm. Other inclusive dining options include the Lido Grill (steaks, burgers or classic fish and chips), The Pizzeria (fresh pizza all day), Grab & Go (near the main pools – a new concept allowing guests to choose a selection of pre­packed snacks, sandwiches or salads to eat informally). Last but not least of the inclusive options is Horizon, the main buffet restaurant that provides meals and snacks 24/7. Horizon has some new options on Britannia including a live cooking station for pancakes, omelettes and noodles, a coffee bar and a superb salad counter.

Other dining options
Fee paying dining is also available based around a range of speciality restaurants and ‘cafes’ from celebrity chefs and culinary experts. These include the Market Café, where master baker Eric Lanlard and renowned cheese expert Charlie Turnbull have chosen a selection of French patisserie, fine cheese, antipasto, charcuterie, tapas and artisan bread; Java, a Coffee shop selling Costa Coffee and overlooking the Atrium; Sindhu, an Asian style restaurant from Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar; the Glass House, a wine and tapas bar by Wine guru Olly Smith, which includes a tasting room, a dining room and a bar area, all of which use decorative glass in different ways. Finally, The Epicurean is a fine dining restaurant which uses molecular gastronomy with precision temperature cooking to provide contemporary dishes and also provides the backdrop for Eric Lanlard’s special afternoon teas.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has announced the signing of InterContinental® Lisbon- Estoril in Portugal, evidence of further growth of this unrivalled luxury global brand. The hotel will operate under a management agreement with Margem Encantada, SA. The signing comes just a few months after the opening of InterContinental Lisbon and, once open, this hotel will join InterContinental Porto – Palacios Das Cardosas as the third InterContinental property in Portugal.

Located in one of the most elegant tourist destinations in the world, InterContinental Lisbon-Estoril stands proudly to the west of Lisbon’s city centre in the affluent town of Estoril. The hotel overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, boasting magnificent sea views and is just a two minute walk to the train station that connects the coastal towns, Lisbon city centre and Lisbon Airport. Nearby the town of Cascais, the popular Guincho beach, numerous golf courses and Sintra Mountain; the hotel is surrounded by an abundance of tourist hot spots.

Commonly called the “Coast of Kings” Estoril has been home to The Spanish Royal Family, Humberto II of Italy, King Carol II of Romania, and Admiral Nicholas Horthy de Nagybánya -Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary. The host of celebrities still flocking to Estoril to enjoy its beaches, casinos, historical buildings and gastronomy continues to be its trademark.

The hotel features an all-day dining restaurant and bar, meeting space and 59-rooms made up of superior rooms, club rooms with an ocean view, and six suites/family rooms. With an interior and exterior pool, fitness centre and an impressive spa complete with a sauna and steam room, the hotel is set to become a leisure destination in its own right.

British politeness is renowned and recognised throughout the world. However even in the hotels the staff do not score highly in comparison with their European colleagues in respect of friendliness and willingness to be of help. This is demonstrated by an analysis conducted by the international booking portal HOTEL INFO of the reviews given by their more than six million customers. Some cities however are able to rescue the British reputation.In a Japanese hotel a new feature from July will be a robot who will welcome the guests at reception. It does remain questionable whether this automated concept will be widely accepted. Hoteliers have realised that a friendly smile is more effective than a thousand words – and often means that minor complaints are forgotten by the guests. Thus a friendly and competent staff has become one of the most important criteria in evaluating a hotel.

Finland is the European version of Japan, Germany and Austria also achieved top evaluations.

In Europe Finland is the land of smiles – at least in the hospitality industry. The Finnish staff are much appreciated by their hotel guests and came out top with 8.62 points out of a possible 10.0. German and Autrian hotels followed close behind with 8.59 points and 8.57 points respectively. Generally the friendliness and competence of hotel staff throughout Europe is evaluated as good and very good. Ralf Priemer, Managing Director at HOTEL INFO, is not surprised: “For many years now we have observed a considerable increase in positive evaluations in respect of the quality of service.” This satisfying increase is almost certainly due to the current high level of transparency in the tourism market. By using booking portals such as HOTEL INFO travellers can not only evaluate hotels themselves but can make use of the many previous evaluations made by guests.

At the bottom of the table for Europe are Denmark (7.98), Russia and the United Kingdom, both with a score of 7.92. Despite the fact that these countries are at the bottom of the table their hotels are nonetheless evaluated relatively positively by their guests. However if the traveller is expecting the legendary British politeness the actual result is less than satisfactory.

In keeping with this, London is in last place amongst the European capital cities with only 7.73 points. The leader by a big margin is Budapest (8.58 points).

Some cities are able to save the good reputation of British politeness. In a comparison of the largest cities in the United Kingdom particularly the hotel personnel in Sheffield (8.62) score well for friendliness and willingness to assist their guests. Leeds (8.41) was voted into second place by the customers. Up to the 7th place – Glasgow with 8.18 points – all the evaluations are very positive. However the two largest cities do not exactly shine in respect of the quality of their service. Coventry (7.38) was even worse than London (7.73) and Birmingham (7.66) in respect of friendliness. It is possible that some guests here would even welcome the first hotel run by robots.

London hotel property prices have reached a new high of £500,000 per room, which are more expensive than an average London apartment of £417,234* according to advisers Colliers International.Colliers analysed more than 2,500 two to five-star standard hotel rooms that transacted in Central London over the last two years**, at an aggregate price of over £1.5 billion, which showed the average transaction taking place at around half a million pounds per bedroom. More specifically, average prices per category per room showed:

• Two to Three-star hotels – £263,000
• Four-star hotels – £540,000
• Five-star hotels – £738,000

Record prices for prime hotels have also exceeded £1,000,000 per room. Colliers sold the 33-room Parkes Hotel in Knightsbridge, which achieved £1.015m per room. Five-star London hotel transactions conducted by Colliers recently included the Wyndham Grand Chelsea Harbour.

Colin Hall, Head of London Hotels Agency at Colliers International, commented that the recent price increases have been achieved both through continued improvements in trade and further yield compression.

He explained, “It is now virtually impossible to buy a freehold Central London hotel operation for under £200,000 per bedroom, irrespective of condition, trade or location. Two years ago a similar hotel would have sold for £150,000 per room, which shows how quickly the market is moving.

“Currently, there is the least availability of stock at any time during the last 25 years. It also means that hotels, especially in Central London, are challenging residential investment values. More particularly, we are seeing demand being driven by international appetite.

“Overseas buyers and some UK funds will now happily take a net initial yield of 4.5%, but even this is seldom available. Owners are just not incentivised to sell with interest rates continuing to run along the floor. They would rather leave their money where it is. London hotels are seen as a very safe long term bet both for running yields and capital appreciation.”

Colliers International also carried out analysis of the Central London branded budget hotel investment market over the same period, where more than 1,500 bedrooms changed hands at an average price per room of £177,000 and average net initial yield of 4.77%.

TA Hotel Collection is continuing its dynamic development programme with the opening of its first spa on 30th March at the 15th century Swan Hotel in Lavenham. Described as an enchanting retreat for the senses, Weavers’ House Spa focuses on total relaxation, enjoyment and wellbeing. The TA Hotel Collection is a group of award winning, luxury hotels and businesses located across the beautiful county of Suffolk and one of East Anglia’s leading independent tourism businesses.

The development of Weavers’ House Spa represents a major investment for the TA Hotel Collection. Delighted to see the completed project Managing Director Grahame Tinnion said; “We have long had ambitions to enter the spa market and in Weavers’ I believe we have delivered a truly market leading take on a treatment based spa. Above all we wanted to bring the very highest standards of service and comfort to our spa guests and give them an experience that is second to none. I am thrilled with the end product and we can now look forward to welcoming our first guests through the door and know they will have a fantastic spa experience.”

Featuring the Temple Spa range of professional products, Weavers’ House Spa offers a stunning range of over 30 results-orientated treatments and features six treatment rooms, a steam room, hot stone sauna and an outdoor vitality pool, plus a retail boutique.

Located in the heart of the medieval wool town of Lavenham, The Swan Hotel is a very impressive listed building, and in adding the spa it was critical that it was sympathetic to its surroundings. Architect and designer Roger Balmer commented; “Our rational behind the build was to create a cool, calm environment that worked well with the beautiful older buildings.

“The building has excellent environmental credentials with heating provided by a deep ground source heat pump and most of the water coming from an onsite borehole.”

Interiors have been styled by the highly respected London based design firm, Todhunter Earle. Partner Kate Earle added, “We had a relaxed, country, contemporary vision for the new spa with a focus on natural finishes. We have used bleached oak, stone, plaster, reclaimed timber, Suffolk sourced naturally dyed linens and large panels of glass to bring the outside in”.

DoubleTree by Hilton began welcoming guests at its 25th hotel in the UK – DoubleTree by Hilton Nottingham – Gateway last week. The hotel is operated under a franchise with Exceptional Resorts and Hotels (UK) Ltd, which will manage the hotel. Renovations began in 2013 with an estimated investment of £5.5 million. DoubleTree by Hilton hotels offer an industry-recognized service culture built around the idea of CARE, which stands for Create a Rewarding Experience for guests, team members and the community. DoubleTree by Hilton Nottingham – Gateway embodies this culture, offering the brand’s signature warm chocolate chip cookie on arrival, welcoming guestrooms, and picturesque views across the moat which surrounds the hotel, all contributing to a peaceful stay.

The new hotel houses 105 guestrooms and suites, with 250 parking spaces. The guestrooms include a comfortable bed, modern en suite shower room, and complimentary in-room tea and coffee making facilities, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi and hardwired access. In the morning, guests are invited to a Wake Up DoubleTree BreakfastTM, which offers both healthy and hearty options to start the day.

Guests have the option to enjoy gourmet food at the hotel’s Blossoms restaurant, which offers picturesque views over the moat. Set in the heart of the building, the restaurant is bright and fresh with designs of natural wood, marble and foliage, and serves both a set menu and an a-la-carte option. Guests can unwind in the Topaz Bar, which serves drinks and snacks until late, or order from the in-room dining service. A further option, The Lobby, is designed in the style of a beautiful Victorian conservatory, and serves a charming afternoon tea.

In Nottingham, guests can visit the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest; or visit Newstead Abbey, the ancestral home of Lord Byron. The city is home to popular sports grounds Nottingham Forest Football Club and Trent Bridge cricket ground, as well as the National Watersports Centre, which has seen a boost in popularity since London hosted the Olympics in 2012, and it is now where a number of top Olympic athletes train.

The retro-look Saucer Floor Lamp from Chelsom is an elegant fitting with contemporary appeal making the piece the perfect addition to any interior scheme. Available as part of a wider collection of ceiling, desk and wall lighting, the Saucer Floor Lamp features a heavy stepped base which supports an elegantly curved sweeping arm and 1960s inspired canopy with soft, white light emitted through an opal acrylic diffuser to allow optimum light spill whilst creating the ultimate in ambience.

Pictured here in Satin Black with Polished Chrome, the fitting is available in various finish options including Polished Chrome and the industrially inspired Black Bronze, one of the exciting new additions to Chelsom’s latest range of finishes.

Autograph Collection, Marriott International’s distinctive portfolio of one-of-a-kind independent hotels, is proud to announce the launch of Kameha Grand Zurich. Set in the heart of one of Europe’s most stylish cities, the distinctively designed 245-room hotel showcases a sophisticated fusion of architecture, unique structure, mixed materials and color that is undeniably signature to Marcel Wanders. Download images.The innovative techniques and playful elements of Wanders’ design concept for the hotel pay homage to Swiss culture. Eleven individually-themed suites include an extravagant Poker Face Suite fitted with roulette tables and Kameha poker cards and a luxurious Serenity Suite appointed with yoga and wellness accessories to foster a sense of tranquillity and wellbeing.

In addition to the beautifully designed bedrooms and suites, Kameha Grand Zurich features two gourmet restaurants. L’Unico specializes in authentic Italian cuisine, while Yu Nijyo showcases generations of precision and Japanese culinary skill with sushi masters preparing quality dishes that can be tailored to suite guest preferences.

Puregold Bar takes its name from the Gold palettes adorning the walls and is a stunning location for daytime meetings and evening cocktails. In the Cigar Lounge, guests can enjoy a selection of Dominican and Cuban cigars, and the Arabian-themed Shisha Lounge features a comprehensive range of Arabic Shisha and tobacco.

The Kameha Spa offers a menu of treatments and therapies in a peaceful sanctuary setting, with facilities including saunas, a steam room and relaxation beds in both the spa lounge and on the rooftop terrace. Signature treatments are themed after the mountains surrounding the city including an indulgent Mountain Herb Full Body Experience that includes a foot scrub and bath, full body massage with mountain herb oil, and a warm sheet body wrap to encourage the absorption of the treatment’s mountain elixir.

Minutes from Zurich International Airport and Zurich Central Station, the hotel has six business suites for business meetings, conferences and celebrations. Conference facilities hold up to 960 people, and feature eight banqueting rooms and The Dome, an architecturally remarkable event area that stretches over 7,500 square feet.

Kameha Grand Zurich is surrounded by the Glattpark, which features forests, meadows and ponds covering more than 30 acres, Kameha jogging trails, beach volleyball, basketball, and the “Kameha Lake”, Zurich’s largest freshwater lake.

Inspired by Salzburg’s rich musical heritage, Goldgasse Hotel has opened in the city’s exclusive Goldgasse neighbourhood, where small arts and crafts shops intermingle with charming cafés and bakeries. Housed in a 700-year-old building, the newly refurbished 16 -room hotel and restaurant brings a warm, cosy residence with playful contemporary touches, perfect for those seeking pared-back luxury in a prime location. Situated right in the heart of Salzburg’s historic quarter, otherwise known as ‘Mozartcity’, Goldgasse Hotel is within walking distance from beautiful squares, gardens, festival halls, Salzburg Cathedral, the Hohensalzburg Fortress and Mozart’s birthplace.

With a personal, attentive service at its heart, Goldgasse feels more like a private home. A warm welcome by the concierge replaces the traditional hotel lobby, providing guests with one point of contact for every request and need, whether it’s to arrange in-room breakfast or a private visit to a museum.

Refreshed throughout and with a new name playing tribute to its location, the boutique hotel takes inspiration from the iconic Salzburg Festival.

The 13th century building, used by coppersmiths from 1573 and later converted into a hotel, has been honoured and restored, with many historical features now uncovered and left intact, including frescoes, original timber, stucco and old stone floors.

Traditional materials such as Salzburg oak, porcelain tiles and glass have been revisited and complimented with lively colour accents to create a comfortable, timeless place to relax in.

Named after a different Opera, each of the spacious 16 guestrooms and suites offer a contemporary interpretation of a tenor’s home, with oversized wardrobes and walls used as a canvas to depict some of the most representative Operas of the Salzburg Festival.

For added drama and romance, the Jedermann suite offers breath-taking views of Salzburg’s cityscape from a private roof terrace.

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Multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm, Patrick Parsons, has been appointed to provide a range of engineering services for a new hotel in Newcastle city centre, building on its expertise in this sector. Newcastle-headquartered Patrick Parsons was commissioned by developer Kier Property to work on the 222 room Motel One which is on course to be completed in late autumn.

The firm is heavily involved in the development of the £13 million boutique hotel – following successful operations in Edinburgh, Aldgate and soon to be opened Manchester, for the German hotel chain – and is providing structural, civil and geoenvironmental services, including the design of a multi-storey steel frame with metal decking for the new part of the building.

Due to its setting within a conservation area of the city, the refurbishment of the existing building has been carefully developed to take the existing archaeology and original features into account.

Besselink & Jones, producers of English Fine Lighting since 1959, are pleased to announce the launch of the Aedre bathroom lighting range.Complying with current bathroom lighting regulations, these fittings are IP44 rated and have been designed with energy efficiency in mind with low energy LED lights finished in frosted glass for a softer glow.

Available in four sizes and in a choice of finish including brass, bronze, nickel and silver.

Structures, from C&C Contract, is a collection of light to medium weight drapery fabrics, woven wide width using Trevira CS yarns. There are eight subtle patterns including wool and tweed effect textures, Ikat stripes and smart crushed taffetas.

Tasteful shades of Grey, off White and Taupe are extremely versatile and will confidently sit in a chic hotel environment.

Andrew Mulroy Architects have recently completed Wombat’s – a popular new luxury backpackers’ hostel on the edge of the City of London. Wombat’s is a world away from the stereotypical hostel environment, and offers facilities more akin to a stylish contemporary budget hotel. Hostel prices however mean that Wombat’s offers amazing value for money to visitors right in the heart of London.The building began life in the 19th century as a seaman’s mission, offering hospitality to sailors from around the globe – including author Joseph Conrad – during the heyday of London’s docks. More recently it was used as a shelter for homeless people and had become extremely run down. Andrew Mulroy Architects’ refurbishment continues the tradition of hospitality on the site with a contemporary new identity and facilities.

The arrival area is a large and welcoming area where guests are encouraged to linger, relax and make new friends. Scattered loose furniture and timber day beds are arranged beneath suspended bookcases, creating a bright and informal space. A key feature of the project is a large luxury vaulted cellar housing a stylish café and bar, where restored and cleaned brick vaults provide a rich textured backdrop. Imaginatively designed lighting, and bespoke and vintage furniture create a warm and contemporary social space alongside a refurbished courtyard.

The hostel contains 108 bright and spacious bedrooms, with a range of room sizes from 2-bed to 8-bed rooms to suit a wide range of groups, and all offering impressive facilities. All have ensuite bathrooms and separate ensuite toilets, alongside generously sized storage lockers and USB outlets with every bed. Timber floors and a strong decorative scheme are offset with simple yet smart timber furniture – including ‘proper’ beds in the double bedrooms. The ninth floor – which previously only housed a water tank – is now a comfortable lounge with impressive views over London. Although few period features have survived, these have been retained and restored including Victorian plasterwork and mid-century architectural features such as the elegant staircase in the building’s 1950s extension.

The response from guests has been outstanding, with traveller reviews including the following:

‘Without a doubt the nicest hostel I’ve stayed in London and probably in Europe.”

‘This place is more like a hotel. It was one of the best hostels we stayed in during our journey through Europe. Our view from the 8th floor tower room is a view of east London that most people would pay hundreds of dollars for.”

“This is definitely the hostel to be at.”

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The most iconic hotel in Leicester, has just undergone a major refurbishment and The Contract Chair Company are happy to have contributed furniture to all its renovated areas including the reception, restaurant and bar. Creating a stylish and contemporary feel the refurbishment of the hotel retains its authentic features with the original sweeping Victorian staircase, but uses modern colours and fabrics to give a contemporary style.Interior designer Helen Hooper of HH Interiors, who has worked with The Contract Chair Company and Jupiter Hotels on numerous other renovation projects across the UK, comments on the project: “Throughout the public areas of the hotel, the interior fuses contemporary fabrics and colours with traditional period features and detail. The hotel is such an iconic part of the city we wanted to embrace and treasure its history and revitalise the Mercure Leicester, The Grand Hotel, keeping its heritage and redesigning it for contemporary audiences.”

The lounge area was supplied with a variety of bespoke upholstered furniture, our exclusive Zarafa Lounge Chairs as a centre piece, Chester Sofas, Roy Lounge Chairs, Tailor Lounge Chairs and much more.

The Carrara marble high table in the lounge area, paired with our bespoke Flume barstools with brass studding detail to the back is certainly worth pointing out.

The bar area features our trendy and hugely popular Chicago barstools.

The renovation also included the opening of brand new Marco Pierre White’s New York Italian restaurant. Montreal Side Chairs upholstered in amethyst colour fabric along with bespoke rounded banquette seating pieces upholstered in manganese shaded faux leather set the tone throughout the dining space.

BAGNODESIGN were the natural choice for the designers looking to specify luxurious, indulgent products that would enable guests of the newly opened Park Chalet Hotel in Azerbaijan to relax and unwind after an active day on the piste.Located in the beautiful Shahdag Mountain Resort, the Park Chalet Hotel has been finished to the highest standards throughout, with an alpine style that reflects its surroundings and unrivalled level of comfort for its guests.

Each one of the hotel’s 164 guest rooms combines the perfect mix of rustic yet luxury design, teamed with stunning mountain views. BAGNODESIGN products take pride in place in the bathrooms, including in the deluxe king bedrooms, leaving guests feeling pampered from top to toe.

Among the BAGNODESIGN products chosen were the company’s Eclipse Bagnotec stone baths, which are not only striking statement pieces but also invite guests to lie back and unwind in spa style luxury. Also chosen from the BAGNODESIGN portfolio by the hotel’s discerning designers was the luxury Malmo acrylic freestanding bath.

With the finishing touches being an all-important aspect of the hotel bathroom, BAGNODESIGN also supplied a wide range of accessories, from magnifying mirrors and toilet roll holders, through to robe hooks and soap baskets. Chosen from the manufacturer’s dedicated Hotel collection, the accessories ensure that the high levels of quality and luxury are present at every level at the Park Chalet Hotel, Shahdag.

The Travel & Tourism sector will demonstrate its enduring ability to create jobs and prosperity for the UK economy in 2015 with the sector forecast to grow by 4%, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) which published its annual economic impact assessment of the sector yesterday (24th March).In 2014, the sector contributed £187.7 billion in GDP and 4.2 million jobs to the British economy.

During 2015, the sector’s GDP contribution is forecast to grow by 4% and employment by 2%. This demonstrates the sector’s enduring ability to generate economic growth and create jobs at a faster rate than the national economy, which is due to grow by 2.9% in 2015.

By the end of 2015, the Travel & Tourism sector will contribute £195.2 billion, almost 11% of the UK’s GDP, and 4.3 million jobs, 13% of total employment, once all direct, indirect and induced impacts are taken into account.

David Scowsill, President & CEO WTTC, said: “The UK is the fifth largest Travel & Tourism economy in the world, with the sector contributing over £187 billion to the wider economy. This is one of the largest economic sectors, driving economic growth, well-being and prosperity. It creates jobs at different skills levels and in areas where other employment opportunities are scarce.”

“WTTC urges the next UK Government to take three major steps to ensure that this sector, which contributes one in nine of all jobs in the UK, continues to grow. Firstly, there is a need to make visa applications easier, particularly for high-spending Chinese travellers. Secondly, the Air Passenger Duty tax, which remains amongst the highest in the world, must be reformed. Thirdly, a decision must be taken quickly on addressing the chronic under-supply of airport capacity in the South East.”

Also released today, research conducted for WTTC shows that the sector could employ 352,000 fewer people and contribute £17 billion less in GDP to the UK economy over the next ten years, when compared to WTTC current growth forecasts, if government and private companies fail to implement policies which promote proactive and careful talent management.

The research on talent gaps in Travel & Tourism, for the first time, quantifies the sheer scale of the human resource challenge for UK’s Travel & Tourism sector and the potential impact of the skill shortage on the 2024 projections.

Scowsill continued: “According to WTTC forecasts, Travel & Tourism has the potential to contribute 5 million jobs and 11.2% of GDP to the British economy by 2025. However, this growth will not happen by itself. Rather, it needs progressive and coordinated government policies right across the sector to make it happen.”

Every year, WTTC forecasts the economic impact of the Travel & Tourism sector in over 180 countries and 24 regions. For 2015, these forecasts show a sector that is, yet again, growing strongly, creating jobs and driving growth. By the end of the year, the contribution to GDP across the world from Travel & Tourism will have grown by 3.7% and the sector will contribute 284 million jobs, or one in eleven of all jobs on the planet, once all the indirect and induced benefits are taken into account.

David Scowsill, President & CEO WTTC, said: “At a time of global economic uncertainty, Travel & Tourism is an enduring source of job creation and a driver of growth for almost every country and every region in the world.”

The award winning destination spa, Titanic Spa in West Yorkshire, has embarked on a significant extension plan to offer increased social space to its guests including the development of a large glamorous bar complete with a vertical garden, cosy snugs and an outdoor spa garden with sunken hot tub. The development is expected to be complete by May 2015.The new facilities will ensure Titanic spa maintains its position as a leading spa destination in the North, whilst boosting local employment with the creation of six new staff positions and increased hours for existing staff.

The spacious and glamourous new bar area is likely to be a major attraction for spa guests and vastly improves an old part of the Titanic Mill building which was previously unused. It has been created in response to guest demand for increased relaxation space where they can enjoy pre-dinner drinks and pre and post treatment morning coffee and afternoon teas and soft drinks. It will offer a combination of social spaces ranging from cosy snugs for quiet time alone to lounge areas for catching up with friends. Central to the bar is an impressive vertical garden green wall reflecting Titanic Spa’s ethos for using natural resources, protecting the environment and incorporating sustainable design into its build. This is the first of its kind in the UK.

Outdoors, the existing spa garden is been landscaped to include a 3 metre sunken hot tub and lounge area with heaters. The new outdoor space has been created to extend the current offering of socialising outside whatever the weather.

Warrick Burton, Managing Director of Titanic Spa, has project managed the entire development using a local building contractor who previously worked on the original Titanic Spa development and Dale Sauna for the outdoors hot tub. The new conversion uses an existing area of the Titanic Mill building, creating a natural flow and successfully achieves Titanic Spa’s mission for sustainability, restoring original windows and recycling doors. The new extension sits alongside the current ground floor facilities and the expansion has been DDA approved, in keeping with the rest of the spa.

Warrick Burton, says of the development; “The extension has been developed in response to customer demand and to further enhance the client spa experience enabling all guests to have greater relaxation benefits and fun. Our inspiration was in keeping with the heritage of the Mill yet we have retained the softness and luxury of the spa experience.”

MGallery, Accor Collection of memorable hotels, proudly announces the opening of The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires in Argentina – an event that illustrates the beginning of the brand story in the Americas. The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires embodies the special allure of the MGallery Collection and offers an authentic, alluring luxury experience. The address features 175 elegant and spacious rooms, including 17 suites, each reflecting the hotel’s special spirit and welcoming décor.A signature atmosphere: European and Argentinian elegance

Each MGallery hotel is inspired by one of three atmospheres: heritage, signature or serenity. The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires stands in the “signature” category for its incomparable style, the perfect combination of European and Argentinian elegance.

Nestled in the city’s prestigious and historic Recoleta district, The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires is named for its grand brick façade, which is distinguished from the neighbourhoods neoclassical architecture. Its utilitarian architecture style recalls Buenos Aires’ brick warehouses, factories, train stations and ports, while simultaneously reflecting a contemporary style with feeling of freshness and warmth. With its genuine identity and contemporary lines, the hotel highlights the best of European heritage, inspired by its Argentinian roots.

The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires recently completed its first set of renovations, and the hotel is imbued with a modern atmosphere, a striking personality, and a strong imprint of local art that adds a touch of magic to the spaces. Design inspiration from the local culture adds to the space’s unique personality, as do the décor’s combination of neutral and modern tones with marble floors, columns and lowered ceilings. Upholstered furnishings provide a refreshing pop of colour, influenced by the norteña culture and a selection of European genres. The hotel offers guests a true insight into Argentina through different elements that reflect its origin: earthy colours, beige and grey accented with touches of terracotta; noble materials: metal, oak, mahogany, glass and leather; local fabrics of woven cotton and silk.

Welcoming spaces for memorable moments
The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires’ 175 rooms reflect the personality of the hotel, and every detail is chosen to enhance the overall guest experience. Comfortable and welcoming, certain rooms offer magnificent views of the city, while others look out to the magical indoor gardens – a luxury in the heart of the bustling city.

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GROHE have introduced a brand new finish to their existing GROHE Grandera™ range: ‘Warm Sunset’. The addition of the new colour brings the look and feel of an elegant spa to the bathroom, capturing the warm and vibrant hues of a sunset for ultimate relaxation.Timeless style
Inspired by nature, the new Warm Sunset finish beautifully complements the Grandera™ collection’s confident lines, which effortlessly combine timeless forms with modern twists. GROHE’s Grandera™ range of luxury bathroom products features signature design pieces manufactured to extremely high standards, while cleverly incorporating GROHE’s advanced technologies.

The Grandera™ collection comprises an exclusive selection of elegant finishes for a completely coordinated bathroom. Chrome is the perfect choice for a classic, elegant look, while Chrome and Gold adds an extra hint of extravagance to your bathroom. The addition of Warm Sunset expands your options even further, bringing out a completely new side to Grandera™.

Stylish design and glamorous detailing
There are a range of new products available in the Warm Sunset shade from single and twin lever mixers, to shower and tub fillers, thermostats, shower rails and wall brackets. A range of accessories including towel holders, soap dispensers and robe hooks completes the collection so you can create a perfectly coordinated bathroom.

Create a new glow in your bathroom with GROHE Grandera™ Warm Sunset, available end of 2015.

Création Baumann introduce the new fabric, Eprisma. Gleaming pyramid-like triangles in sequin foil are appliquéd on the semi-transparent fabric, in a closely packed strict geometric arrangement. The three-dimensional foil has been moulded and top stitched and the multifaceted light display changes with the angle of incoming sun light. Available in three colours.

Also available from Création Baumann are 70 new fabrics, from opaque to sheer in 1700 colours.

Creation Baumann offers the world’s largest and most diverse acoustic collection which harmoniously blend effective sound absorption with attractive aesthetics for stylish properties – be it for a hotel, an office, concert hall or for a private house.

Britain’s biggest ever cruise ship, the £473 million P&O Britannia, which was officially named by Her Majesty The Queen at a glittering ceremony in Southampton, features over 21,000 sq m of custom Axminster carpet from the royal warrantied carpet manufacturer Brintons.The 3,600 passenger vessel is the largest cruise ship designed for the British holiday market. Weighing an incredible 141,000 tons and stretching longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall (1,082 ft), it boasts 15 passenger decks, 26 places to eat and drink and four swimming pools. It also features a three-tier atrium, a 936-seater theatre and a multi-million pound art collection.

Award winning commercial hospitality designers Richmond International, a company renowned across the globe for its work on luxury hotels, was appointed by P&O to design a stylish and luxurious interior of the ship that combined the excitement of cruising with the sophistication of a five-star hotel. Brintons was specified based on its reputation for being one of the world’s leading carpet manufacturers, supplying high quality and innovative products that are custom-made for specific applications

Lois Norman, senior designer for Brintons, commented: “This is an extremely prestigious and exciting project and one that we are really proud to have been involved with. Designing the right carpets for the public spaces was obviously a critical part in delivering the overall vision of what Richmond wanted to achieve and ensure a successful solution for P&O.

“Working in partnership with Richmond, our design team came up with a number of bespoke carpet designs for all the public areas of the ship, including the atrium, theatre, restaurant and bars, casino, library and wedding chapel.

“A fresh and neutral colour palette was used throughout the main areas, with subtle highlights of stronger colours like teal. Many areas featured contemporary geometrics and clean lines to create a sophisticated hospitality look. Each of the themed restaurants also had unique concepts including natural forms and oriental geometric designs.”

The Crowne Plaza London-Battersea has had an interesting start to life. The hotel was built in 2010 and was originally part of the Von Essen group before the company was put into administration back in 2012. It was then bought by the Rhombus group and turned into Hotel Verta by Rhombus – London until the end of 2014. Fabiano Hotels LTD has recently bought the property with management from IHG. Now under the Crowne Plaza brand, IHG mean business – and they’re bringing it south of the river.With only a ten-minute walk from Clapham Junction train station and the close proximity of the Heliport to the hotel, accessing London is just a short ride away. It’s also just across the river from Chelsea Harbour, home to the showrooms of many of the companies we feature within our Directory of suppliers.

Finding the hotel can be tricky as Google maps wasn’t, at the time of visit, recognising the hotel name as it’s still listed as Hotel Verta. It’s also not particularly identifiable (as the hotel) from the main road (no visible exterior signage) and is located behind two car showrooms so if you’re travelling from Clapham Junction train station, it’s advisable to jump in a taxi for the short journey. However, once you reach the hotel, the views over the Thames are just spectacular and the theatrical element of watching helicopters taking to the skies from the port next door turns it into a hidden gem.

Walking into Reception there is a long reception desk to the left, lift lobby ahead and a staircase to the Verta bar on the mezzanine level on the right. Beyond the staircase is a small seating area and bar with the restaurant. The open-plan layout enables light to fill the space and creates the feeling of more space. The building is lined with floor to ceiling windows which again enables guests and visitors to view the helicopters and take in the views across the Thames.

A large bronze map of the local area hangs behind the reception desk as functional artwork with gold, yellow and dark wood finishes creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The interior has not been altered since the hotel opened in 2010 and the general design throughout the hotel has an Asian style to it which is more noticeable in the restaurant area.

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Forbes Group’s innovative Silcra covers bring an instant update to buffet or registration tables.

Made-to-measure covers stretch over the table and are fixed under the legs, creating a contemporary, sculpted silhouette.Silcra covers are designed to fit any table size (round or rectangular), come in a range of colours and are all machine washable. They are also available for cocktail tables.

Order your Silcra cover in Premier fabric and we can personalise it with any graphic or your company logo for a particularly sleek finish.

For further information please phone us on 01568 616638 or take a look at our website at www.forbesgroup.eu.

Bluebelt Hospitality has acquired the leasehold of The Elephant Hotel, taking its portfolio of properties to four. The historic hotel had been marketed by leisure property specialist Fleurets on behalf of Hillbrooke Hotels. Opened in the late 1800’s, The Elephant Hotel has been through a major refurbishment and today features 22 themed guestrooms, a 70-cover restaurant, bar, three flexible banqueting spaces which can accommodate a total of 110 guests, and a spacious garden with 150 covers between the alfresco area and the cover marquee, which make the property ideal for wedding ceremonies and celebrations.

“We suspected The Elephant Hotel would generate a good deal of interest as the M4 corridor continues to be an area of high demand. The property was in good condition throughout and typically the type of business that would appeal to many of the newly expanding operator groups” – says Will Thomas of Fleurets. “I have no doubt that the Elephant will fit well within Bluebelt’s operations and will assist the group in establishing themselves as high end hospitality operators.”

Accor has pledged to double the number of its UK apprentices, bringing the total to 300 by the end of 2016. Accor has provided apprenticeships in the UK for the past ten years. During that time, over 500 apprentices have completed their training. Since 2012, Accor has invested over £2.5 million in training and development in the UK, and in addition to the 150 apprentices currently employed; the group offers 300 work placements every year.

Later today, Accor is hosting an Apprentice Day at its state-of-the-art London training Académie. The aim of the event is to inspire young people to begin a career within the hospitality industry and encourage them to consider an apprenticeship as the route into the sector.

As part of the event, attendees will take part in ‘The Big Hospitality Conversation’. The purpose is to bring young people, Accor apprentices and Accor business leaders together to have a unique conversation about the hospitality sector and apprenticeships.

Throughout, attendees will hear from Thomas Dubaere, Managing Director, Accor UK & Ireland; Philip Addison, VP of Human Resources of Accor; The Springboard Charity and training providers.

Thomas Dubaere, Managing Director, Accor UK & Ireland said, “We believe in the value of apprenticeships, which is why we are committed to growing the number that we have in the UK.

“One of the biggest challenges we face in the UK is that young people aren’t always aware of what careers are available to them and there is a myth that apprenticeships are not a viable route into a career. I believe that apprenticeships are vital as they offer young people an alternative to further education, allowing them to earn whilst they learn and helping them to reach their career goals. Through our conversations today, we hope to educate and share experiences between some potential apprentices and our current apprentices.”

RAZZMATAZZ : conceived and designed by Henry Chebaane of Blue Sky Hospitality based on the idea that you don’t fly on top of a magic carpet – you fly inside it, to another dimension in time and space, transported to a magical realm where not everything is what it seems.Razzmatazz is the ultimate immersive brand experience, inspired by Persian and Azeri rugs and related elements. Oriental rugs were used traditionally as story books: into it were woven patterns, colours and symbols full of meaning, often poetic or extraordinary… All this content is magnified within the interiors as physical and emotional sensations: instead of looking at a single rug on a floor, Razzmatazz is experienced as being INSIDE the rug universe: a woollen geometric surface covers the whole floor, then its patterns (a stylised flower cross between a Persian rose and an Azeri pomegranate) pop out onto the walls and ceiling, colours are within the materials but also leach out through glowing lights. The bar and wooden wall panels contain angular lines that trace the threads of a giant imaginary loom into space…

So now, what is the STORY?
This late night speakeasy cocktail bar is about Ed Razzle and Tom Dazzle.

Two entertainer adventurers originally from London, they arrived in Long Island, USA in 1925 where they played along the beach an unusual combination of percussion, juggling, magic and singing… One day they met the Great Gatsby who was amazed at the entertainment potential these two guys could bring to his (in)famous underground parties. He offered them shelter in exchange to performing their act exclusively for his guests in his own private club. They learned the art of cocktail making and had a blast. Eventually, they got bored of all that partying and wanted to travel again.

One night, they met one of the guests who was a wealthy tea merchant just arrived from the Far East. He had some samples with him that were tasted. They all thought it was a very aromatic drink but lacking in fun… So R & D decided to spike it up a bit by adding all the left overs from opened bottles after the party: vodka, gin, tequila and rum as well as lemon and cola. Over several nights they perfected the mix and created new versions. It became the most popular drink as it could easily be shared by several guests at one table. They called it the Long Island Ice Tea.

After a few seasons, R&D grew restless yearning for adventure. They met the tea merchant again who was going back on his journey East and accepted a ship ride with him in 1930. They stopped in Istanbul, learned about coffee, sugar and spices…then went through Suez along the Arabian Coast, arrived in Ormuz and travelled through Persia.

They joined a camel caravan transporting dates, cane sugar and perfumes, going north to the Caspian Sea. En route they learned about the fruits, flowers, music, arts and scents of the region by stopping along the way to ancient cities like Shiraz and Ispahan. They eventually reached the cosmopolitan Baku.

Ruled by the Soviet, the place was no fun but its ancient culture was intriguing, exciting and inspiring to R&D. Having gained experience of running an underground party and drinking club during the prohibition in the USA, they decided to create the first (and only) speakeasy in Baku.

The location was so secret that no one revealed its existence or spoke about it… To this day no one knows for sure where it was. Some say in a hidden cellar under the house of parliament, other say somewhere in the old city behind the caravansaray, entrance concealed by one of the carpets… The club membership was strictly by personal recommendation that members of the remaining merchant class, artists and intelligentsia passed to each other under the code name: RAZZMATAZZ.

This was the word that one had to murmur at the door after knocking 1, 2, 3.

For many years the legendary club was a refuge to play western music, taste drinks and food that was banned by the soviets as signs of decadence.

In the turmoil that followed WW2 and Stalinism, no one knows what happened to R&D and to the club. Some say they married locally, changed their names and disappeared into one of the villages in the Absheron peninsula. Other claimed to have caught sight of them in Cairo, Mumbai or even Macao. There was also a strange report in the New York Daily Mirror circa 1960, of an avant-garde underground jazz and comedy club in Brooklyn decorated wall to wall in Persian carpets and run by two eccentric dudes, their exotic looking wives and a pet “whatnot” called Gonzo.

The mystery lives on forever but inspired by this tale, we are reinstating the legendary RAZZMATAZZ @ the Absheron.

According to research one quarter (25 per cent) of European businesses are risking employee safety due to poor maintenance of their building’s fire or emergency lighting systems. In a survey of European fire equipment installers, one third (34 per cent) also state that emergency lighting performance is not accurately monitored using a logbook in accordance with the law.

Similar levels of apathy to accurate logbook recordings were found in relation to fire safety efficiency with one third (33 per cent) of installers’ customers not possessing up to date fire detection records on site.

Legislation such as the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 dictates that all businesses adhere to prescriptive standards which comprise the quality of products adopted, maintenance of all safety systems and shared responsibility to protect the workforce.

Low adoption of technology
Despite the environmental and total cost of ownership benefits, only 15 per cent of installers’ customers use LED technology and just nine per cent have self-testing emergency lighting systems which can reduce valuable resource spent by businesses on maintenance.

To support businesses in accurate self-assessment of existing security equipment, Hochiki Europe has developed an online tool which quizzes the user on the performance status of a building’s current solution as well as providing guidance on methods of improving it.

David Brown, Product Manager, said: “It is crucial that businesses do not fall short when it comes to the assessment and maintenance of safety provision which is designed to protect employees and prevent accidents that may not be legislated for.

“We’ve partnered with skilled installers to determine where businesses and their building owners can be better supported and developed a simple online tool which directs them to solutions that promote efficiency and optimum safety in accordance with the very latest regulations.”

Data from a representative sample of European fire and lighting system installers during January 2015

Marriott International has recently announced plans to open 2,700 Moxy hotel rooms in key cities throughout Europe by end 2016. With a goal of 150 Moxy hotels and 25,000 rooms by 2020, the company expects to sign at least 4,200 rooms in 2015 alone. The announcement follows the successful debut of Moxy Milan Malpensa, Italy in September 2014 and the news that the brand is entering the U.S market with eight identified properties slated for major metropolitan locations, including three in New York City (Chelsea, Mid-town and Lower Manhattan), San Francisco, Seattle, New Orleans and Chicago.

In partnership with Vastint Hospitality as the owner and developer and franchise partners, Nordic Hospitality and ZLEEP Hotels for Moxy Copenhagen, the following Moxy hotels are expected to open by end 2016:

Moxy Munich Airport, Germany – located five minutes from the main terminal – winter 2015
Moxy Eschborn, Germany – located 10 minutes from downtown Frankfurt and 15 minutes from Frankfurt Airport – early 2016
Moxy Frankfurt Gateway Gardens, Germany – located in the campus of Gateway Gardens , walking distance to Frankfurt Airport terminal 2 – summer 2016
Moxy Aberdeen Airport, UK – mid 2016
Moxy Berlin Ostbahnhof, Germany – near Alexanderplatz, Prenzlauer Berg and the River Spree – early 2016
Moxy London Royal Docks, UK – close to the ExCel Exhibition Areas and Canary Wharf – autumn 2016
Moxy London Stratford, UK – next to Europe’s largest Shopping Center and adjacent to the Olympic Park – summer 2016
Moxy Oslo Exporama, Norway – next to one of the largest exhibition grounds between Oslo and Oslo Airport – summer 2016
Moxy Copenhagen, Denmark – close to Scandiagade which has seen much development in recent years for offices, retail and residential developments – summer 2016
Moxy Essen, Germany – located right in the city centre of the West German City of Essen, a short walk from one of the busiest train stations in Germany – winter 2016
Moxy London Heathrow Airport, UK – located on Bath Road with quick access to Heathrow’s Terminals – winter 2016

Defined by attitude rather than affordability, Moxy Hotels redesigns the traditional economy hotel experience, allowing guests to work, play, connect and enjoy whilst surrounded by bold design and contemporary style. With its vibrant lobby spaces, 24/7 self-service grab and go, ample plug-ins for personal devices and free Wi-Fi, Moxy aims to surprise budget-conscious travellers with a thoughtful, spirited and fun guest experience.

Moxy Hotels is the latest addition in a growing luxury and lifestyle brand portfolio at Marriott International. Each brand is positioned to serve today’s savvy traveller by delivering high design and technology forward experiences at every price point. Marriott International’s luxury and lifestyle brands portfolio currently includes The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, EDITION, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, the Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, Bulgari and Moxy Hotels. Accounting for 25 percent of the company’s system wide pipeline, Marriott expects to add more than 200 luxury and lifestyle hotel projects over the next several years, reflecting over $15 billion of investment by the company’s owners and franchisees. Across Marriott’s entire portfolio of brands, the company expects to surpass one million rooms open or in development by the end of 2015.

MAS SALAGROS, BARCELONA is an exciting new opening which we are thrilled to welcome into the Workham family. Opening on 15th May 2015, this brand new eco resort is situated in the middle of the countryside in Vallromanes, just 20 minutes north east of Barcelona.

The property enjoys the benefit of the beautiful Aire Ancient Baths – a spa concept where you can be immersed and relax mind, body and soul and the natural extent of Mas Salagros does not stop there – a farm and a gourmet restaurant all add to the ecological theme.

Mas Salagros is an ideal spot for a family holiday, encompassing nature, relaxation, the culture of nearby Barcelona and a full menu of activities. For romantic weekends, the hotel and baths are idyllic and for groups, Mas Salagros is a perfect option.

To mark World Water Day 2015 Roca is hosting a special event at the Roca London Gallery on Monday 23 March, in order to highlight the role that designers and architects play in responding to the risks of extreme weather, such as flooding, in the UK.The theme for World Water Day 2015 is ‘Water and Sustainable Development’. As a manufacturer with strong sustainability and environmental values, this is a particularly important topic for Roca.

Entitled ‘Designing for Climate Change’, the event at Roca London Gallery will see leading experts from the fields of architecture and landscape architecture sharing ideas about how we can work with water when designing homes and public spaces, and how we can inspire future designers.

Organised by the We Are Water Foundation and supported by Roca and the Landscape Institute, the World Water Day event looks to raise awareness about water, weather and the importance of good design. Guests will hear from speakers including Sue Ilman, Managing Director of Ilman Young Landscape Design and Andrew Scarce from Baca Architects.

Through the We Are Water Foundation, an initiative of Roca’s, the charitable organisation aims to mitigate the negative effects associated with the lack of adequate water resources, raising overall awareness and supporting projects in some of the world’s most deprived areas.

Designing for Climate Change – a World Water Day 2015 event
Monday 23 March at Roca London Gallery, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
To RSVP visit this link

For more details telephone 0207 610 8503 or visit www.rocalondongallery.com

To learn more about World Water Day, visit www.unwater.org/worldwaterday

The Mercure London Watford Hotel has announced the refurbishment of 100 of its 218 bedrooms. The extensive renovation includes the redesign of 100 classic bedrooms. Work on the renovation is well underway and is set to be complete by the end of March. The four star hotel’s bedroom renovation will cater well for the demand from the local corporate and consumer markets. Classic bedrooms include flat screen TV, complimentary high-speed WiFi, new beds with a Kayfoam King Koil mattress, and en-suite bathrooms with toiletries. In addition, there are also 20 Privilege Bedrooms, which feature everything guests could wish for to relax and unwind in style including complimentary unlimited movies, a Nespresso coffee machine, newspaper, robe and slippers.

Interior designer Helen Hooper of HH Interiors, who has previously worked with Jupiter Hotels on renovation projects across the UK, comments on the project: “The design of the new bedrooms delivers a better hotel experience for guests. We’ve added in some local touches, such as the printed headboard, which is of an old scene taken in 1936 of the construction of the pedestrian subway under the Watford bypass where the hotel is situated. The colour scheme is based on an elegant and stylish grey palate to refresh the room making it more inviting and comfortable.”

The hotel has a vast selection of event space on offer, with 12 meeting rooms available, and space for up to 200 delegates. Each offer complimentary high speed WiFi and there is parking available for up to 300 cars on site.

Allan Porter the hotel’s General Manager commented: “We are incredibly excited about this project and the timing could not be more ideal, with a host of impressive events taking place over the next few months. This project will help elevate our quality offering to guests, as well as helping us to meet the demand for rooms in the town.”

Situated close to Watford town centre and ideally located for the towns of St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Elstree, Borehamwood and Radlett, the Mercure London Watford Hotel offers the perfect location for leisure and business travellers. Watford Junction station is two miles form the hotel, offering fast and easy access within 20 minutes of London.

A major milestone in the transformation of Edinburgh’s Old Town will be reached this month (March 2015) when the city’s New Waverley development starts construction work linking it to the Capital’s iconic Royal Mile.Work on Artisan Real Estates Investors’ £150 million site, which lies at the heart of Edinburgh’s historic city centre, is continuing with a146-apartment Adagio Aparthotel which will face directly on to the Royal Mile, behind a retained façade of the C-listed Sailors Ark building.

This significant development phase also includes retail, restaurant and bar opportunities on the ground floor of the Aparthotel. When complete, the Aparthotel will overlook a new £6.5 million public square, also delivered as part of this phase of works, creating a vibrant central hub for New Waverley.

Construction work on the initial development phase of two Whitbread hotels with frontages on to East Market Street and Cranston Street is currently underway – identified by twin tower cranes on site. Work on the two hotels – a 127-room Premier Inn and a 121-room Hub by Premier Inn – began in November 2014 with a completion date set for mid-2016.

Welcoming this development milestone, Clive Wilding, Artisan’s Project Director, says: “The breakthrough to the Royal Mile marks a significant stage in the evolution of New Waverley, and its transformation of Edinburgh’s Old Town and the entire city centre area.

“We are now seeing New Waverley’s true scope and potential being delivered before us – a broad sweep of an historic part of the city integrating Edinburgh’s busy New Street and Market Street with Waverley Station and the Royal Mile.

“The new public square, with stunning views over Calton Hill, will form a vibrant hub for this flagship mixed-use development and its surrounding area, creating an entirely new destination for Edinburgh. With it, we are creating the very heart of our development – a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly urban centre mixing open public spaces with high quality homes and offices, as well as restaurants, shops and hotels linking directly to one of the most iconic streets anywhere in the world.”

He added: “We are working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council to create a community partnership to breathe new life into the area, using recently released funding. This includes arts projects such as the graffiti-based artworks on site hoardings and community events throughout the year.”

The British Contract Furnishing Association (BCFA) has spoken out about the importance of complying with fire standards for upholstered outdoor furniture and issued guidance on the regulations to its members, after feedback showed many were confused about the standards and others assumed outdoor furniture simply carried no risk. The warning comes ahead of the Summer, when outdoor furniture is used more frequently in the commercial hospitality industry. Colin Watson, Managing Director of the BCFA said; ‘We are urging all companies to become acquainted with the regulations for outdoor furniture and to carry out a fire safety risk assessment. The UK fire regulations for furnishing products are among the most stringent in the world, but have helped save countless lives.’

Chris McCormack; BCFA member and Managing Director of Leisure Plan is keen to emphasise the importance of the correct specifications saying; ‘The advice from the BCFA about this is excellent and as a company is something we always emphasise to our own clients’.

Foam, fabric and all other cover material should all meet the BS 7176: 2007 medium risk; also referred to as passing the test at ‘crib 5’. Further details on the fire standards can be obtained from the Fire Regulations section of the BCFA website. BCFA members can also contact the BCFA for further clarification.

Photos from the Contract Chair Company

Boasting one of the Thai capital’s most prestigious addresses, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel offers a sophisticated retreat for guests who appreciate life’s finer pleasures and the intrigue of original experiences. Redefining luxury, traditional Thai architecture and glorious gardens exude elegant simplicity and create a sense of serene exclusivity that feels far removed from the bustling city, matched by the convenience of being well connected to everything Bangkok has to offer.Strategically located in the heart of central Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong district, opposite the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and right next to a sky train station, Anantara Siam Bangkok is within close proximity to the main business, nightlife and shopping districts, Lumphini Park, and many of the city’s key cultural attractions, providing the ideal base for the business or leisure traveller.

Luxury accommodation comprises of 354 rooms and suites designed in traditional Thai and contemporary style with authentic Thai artefacts, teak furnishings and silk fabrics, overlooking tropical gardens, the pool, prestigious neighbourhood streets or the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.

Four room types each offer 42 square metres of beautifully appointed space, a marble bathroom with a deep tub and separate shower, and some also a private entrance graced with white columns and Thai statues, as well as a dining patio amidst landscaped gardens overlooking the pool and an exotic lotus pond.

Six suite categories ranging from 72 to 344 square metres offer unique indulgences, such as a dressing room, massage suite, whirlpool, an office library and elegant spaces to host private dinner parties. Kasara Lounge guests receive a range of exclusive leisure and business privileges, including an express check-in and check-out at the Kasara Lounge, all day snacks and refreshments, and use of a private meeting room.

Impressive leisure facilities tempt guests to swim at the outdoor pool and sunbathe on the sundeck surrounded by tropical garden scenery, a waterfall and lotus ponds. Those with energy or city stress to burn can work-out at the 24 hour health club’s gym and squash court, or in the yoga, aerobics and spinning studio, then relax afterwards in the steam room and whirlpool. For the ultimate in pampering indulgence, award winning Anantara Spa journeys offer Thailand’s exotic wellness traditions, trusted ancient therapies from across Asia and advanced western spa wisdom.

The hotel’s highly acclaimed culinary experiences offer some of the city’s very best dining. 10 dining options include award winning restaurants, the much raved about Sunday Brunch, speciality Japanese, Thai and Italian restaurants serving authentic flavours in atmospheric settings, as well as refreshments under the lobby’s magnificent frescoed ceiling, and leisurely wine and charcuterie evenings.

Family friendly services keep youngsters entertained and give parents a stress free stay. Little ones enjoy a welcome amenity, their own bathrobes, toiletries and bedtime treats, as well as children’s menus at every hotel restaurant. While the concierge can be called upon to arrange action packed days out, book a babysitter or a special family dinner.

Business guests experience the art of perfect meetings and events at one of Bangkok’s most sophisticated hotels, within close proximity of the city’s business district. Extensive facilities cater for every kind of social and corporate function, from stylish boardrooms and meeting rooms, to a grand ballroom for up to 1,000 guests. Dedicated business and event co-ordinators ensure that every element flows seamlessly, from VIP welcome gifts to tailoring the ideal music, themed décor and entertainment, as well as impeccably executed culinary experiences.

For weddings, Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel specialises in Indian celebrations and The Wedding Galleria offers a one stop shop for everything wedding related. Wedding dress, flower, table setting and cake displays provide plenty of inspiration, and the Galleria’s theme changes every two months to showcase upcoming trends. Couples can book a personal consultation to discuss gifts and transport for guests, pre-wedding celebrations and tailored arrangements for the big day itself, a wedding photo shoot, menu tastings and even honeymoon ideas.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport is a 45 minute drive from the hotel and Don Mueang International Airport just 25 minutes. The hotel’s fast track greeting service helps smooth the customs process upon arrival at the airport and offers WiFi enabled limousines into the city.

Anantara Siam Bangkok offers guests the full luxurious authentic Thai experience right in the heart of the kingdom’s capital.

JD Wetherspoon’s latest pub to open is The Twelve Tellers in Preston named because the site was formerly a bank back in the 1930s. KD Paine & Associates was responsible for the building’s redesign and refurbishment and, while they were keen to make it a contemporary environment, they wanted to give due regard to the building’s history.

When it came to the lighting they used historic photography of the building’s former incarnation to influence the styling of the pub’s chandeliers and wall lights and called on Dernier & Hamlyn to design and manufacture lighting to suit their interior design.

The end results are 35 light fittings that echo the shape of the original fittings but with a modern interpretation achieved by removing floral flourishes and fussy framework and replacing it with sweeping nickel lines and opal glass globe shades.

David Carrington from KD Paine & Associates says:
“We had seen Dernier & Hamlyn’s work in many other hotels and restaurants and were confident they would be able to fulfil our requirements in terms of design, timescales and budget. We and our client are delighted with the results and look forward to working with them on more projects in the future.”

Autograph Collection, Marriott International’s exclusive portfolio of hotels recognized for celebrating individuality, will welcome a new boutique property to its collection. The Press Hotel, located in Portland, Maine, is housed in the historic Portland Press Herald newspaper building and will be Portland’s first lifestyle, boutique hotel when it is scheduled to open in May 2015. Driven by the vision and passion of local developer Jim Brady, The Press Hotel will capture the essence of Portland by getting under the city’s cultural skin and showcasing Maine artisans, craftsmen and local culinary talent. A front-desk “letterpress art wall” sculpture will welcome guests in the main lobby. There will also be a “Mainer” art gallery, open to the public, for moments of quiet repose or cocktail sipping. The gallery’s signature piece will be a stunning installation made from antique typewriters. The hotel will also celebrate the city’s local authors and arts community, and has commissioned all of the artwork for the hotel to local painters, textile makers and wood-workers.

“We are excited to welcome The Press Hotel to Autograph Collection, which was selected for its bold originality, rich character and uncommon details,” said Julius Robinson, Vice President, Autograph Collection. “Autograph Collection is known for delivering extraordinary hotel experiences that are Exactly Like Nothing Else, and we believe that The Press Hotel will deliver on this promise.”

Located at the corner of Exchange and Congress Streets in the Old Port neighborhood, the hotel’s brand identity and ethos stem from its location in the historic Portland Press Herald building. Referencing the building’s history, architecture group Stonehill & Taylor, responsible for the hotel’s design, worked closely with Portland Press Herald editors to select content from the newspaper’s pages to incorporate into various aspects of the design.

The hotel’s 110 thoughtfully appointed guestrooms include a Penthouse Suite with exclusive rooftop access and 360-degree views of the city; four private function rooms will also be available for groups and special events. The guestroom design is inspired by a 1920s writer’s office including a vintage-style journalist desk and playful newsroom references throughout. Each bathroom will feature a reeded glass door similar to those in historic newspaper offices. Wood floors with herringbone area rugs give a residential feel and prints by Portland-area artists will decorate the walls. A woven wall tapestry by renowned local artist Angela Adams has been designed exclusively for the hotel.

In line with Autograph Collection’s overall specialized consumer offerings, guests of The Press Hotel can expect surprising and playful touches like customizable ‘do not disturb’ signs, “Hot off the Press” French-pressed coffee, and typewriter-key shaped coasters. Thought-provoking author’s quotes will also be delightful discoveries at unexpected turns – from closet walls and in-room safes, to meeting spaces and the lobby bar.

Aiming to enhance the already vibrant and booming Portland dining scene, The Press Hotel will be home to the 65-seat restaurant M.C. UNION, by highly acclaimed James Beard Award-winning chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier. The two 26-year Maine restaurant veterans, widely regarded as the originators of farm-to-table sustainable cuisine before it was mainstream, will stay true to their passion for the classics. Menu details will be available later this spring and will feature creative takes on recognizable ‘Americana’ favorites from coast to coast, that will highlight the chefs’ California and Maine backgrounds. The lobby bar, The Inkwell, will feature handcrafted vintage cocktails.

The Press Hotel will partner with Portland institutions including MECA (Maine College of Art), The Telling Room, the Portland Public Library and The Salt Institute to offer guests exclusive insider access to some of the city’s most unique entertainment, art programs, creative community gatherings and trade workshops through partnerships and a lecture series at the hotel itself.

The Press Hotel is the 79th property to be added to Autograph Collection’s portfolio of worldwide hotels. The Collection’s vision is to offer an evolving group of passionately independent hotels, ranging from a 15-room boutique hunting lodge in the mountains of Colorado to a 19th century neoclassical palace in Prague. Exactly like nothing else, each hotel is thoughtfully chosen for its quality, originality, bold character and capacity to offer today’s modern traveler a range of unique experiences suited to their individual sense of style and adventure. While still relatively new, Autograph Collection’s portfolio has proven to be a highly successful venture because of its discerning selection process, the unique travel experiences offered by its hotels and the Collection’s membership benefits.

The Press Hotel is a member of the Autograph Collection™ and managed by Trust Hospitality.

Stratta is a range of tactile furniture – durable yet soft-to-the-touch.

Created from coated polyurethane foam, this unique composition gives Stratta products the highest benefits in comfort and versatility of vanguard design.

A collection inspired by innovation and modernity, for both indoor & outdoor use available from Encompass Furniture & Accessories.A fun mix of modern and “tweaked” traditional design, Stratta furniture is always soft, warm and inviting.

The availability of many colour finishes gives the furniture an exclusive and individual skin.

Moreover, the furniture can be upholstered in Kvadrat or COM fabric for interiors.

Modularity

Many of the Stratta collections can be used in a modular fashion to create endless configurations of soft comfortable seating, lending the furniture to a host of commercial and residential installations.

More Than Just Furniture

Configurations of Stratta furniture can be enhanced and customised with the use of planters and tables to make a unique, functional furniture system.

For Indoors

Indoor furniture pieces boast details of simple design with tactile materials.

These finishing touches embellish the simple designs – a characteristic which gives these durable products a homely, interior feel.

Visit the website for Encompass Furniture & Accessories here.

The latest phase of a multi-million pound development is set to be unveiled at Ramside Hall Hotel this spring – with the promise it will be fit for a president.The hotel, located near Durham, is set to open its new accommodation wing in April, which will feature 47 premier rooms.

And the hotel is also creating what is believed to be the largest and most luxurious Presidential Suite in the region, complete with a seven feet wide bed and a free standing copper bath.

The suite, which will have windows with panoramic views across the surrounding area, will feature a large dining and bedroom area, a dressing room, the copper bath and an additional bathroom.

“It will be something very special for the North East,” said hotel owner, John Adamson.

The new wing will also include two family rooms and two junior suites, giving guests a wide variety of options.

The 47 premier rooms can be configured as either doubles or twins, some with Juliet balconies overlooking Ramside’s championship golf course.

All of them have luxury bathrooms with a walk-in shower and free standing baths and are furnished with Hypnos beds, favoured by royalty and widely regarded as the most comfortable beds in the world.

“We have done everything possible to ensure our guests have a memorable and comfortable stay in luxurious surroundings,” said Mr Adamson.

The new wing is part of a £16m development at Ramside Hall, which includes the creation of a second championship golf course which opened last year.

The final stage will be the opening of the Spa at Ramside Hall in July, which will make the hotel one of the top destination hotels in the region.

The state-of-the-art facilities include a 25m pool, a vitality pool, external infinity pool and a spa garden along with a variety of steam rooms, saunas and a Rasul mud chamber.

It also includes a gym, aerobics and dance studio, hair salon, Asian restaurant and bar and a 12 treatment rooms using ESPA products.

Marriott International, Inc. and Noble Investment Group debut the first AC Hotels Marriott property in Kansas City’s Westport District. It is also the second AC Hotels by Marriott branded property to open in the U.S. Located in the heart of Westport, the region’s oldest established community and popular shopping and entertainment destination, the 123-room lifestyle hotel embodies a sleek European look and feel coupled with unique local design elements.Guestrooms and suites at AC Hotel Kansas City Westport feature clean and sophisticated design elements, plush seating furnishings and multifunctional workspaces.

The AC Kitchen, open for breakfast daily, serves a fresh European influenced breakfast, and the AC Lounge features signature cocktails, regional beers, draft wines and small plates.

The AC Library, a collaborative space with a communal table, boasts individual reading areas and a carefully curated selection of books, magazines and guides to all that Kansas City has to offer.

High-tech amenities include mobile check-in, “media salons” with Bluetooth technology and USB charging stations, and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

Other amenities include 1,000 square feet of flexible, high-tech meeting/function space; a 24-hour, fully equipped business center and fitness center; and complimentary shuttle within a three-mile radius.

Step into the customised world of quality switch plate and socket design with Hamilton Litestat at the May Design Series, 17 – 19 May, London ExCeL. At this leading international interiors event, Hamilton is showcasing its ‘Bespoke’ design and production service, Savile Row.Anything on a plate
When it comes to the exceptional or something unique for that special project, Hamilton is the natural choice, offering non-standard plates in a special finish or colour, made to client’s own design requirements. Using Hamilton’s bespoke design and manufacturing service, Savile Row, Hamilton can create tailor-made prototypes to a highly finished standard to show clients exactly how the interior designer’s ideas will look, and work as a custom-built electrical accessory.

Ian Hamilton, Managing Director of Hamilton says: “We are seeing a growing trend among interior designers for ‘exclusivity’, especially within the boutique hotel sector. Interiors professionals appreciate our consultative approach. Simply tell us what functionality you need, what style and finish you are leaning towards, and our in-house team of experts will design and manufacture a unique personalised solution that will match your exact requirements.”

Boutique, bronze with a touch of Boleyn
Hamilton’s numerous finishes include 4 sophisticated shades of bronze. One of which is featured in a recent ‘Boutique’ project, within Hever Castle’s luxury Bed and Breakfast accommodation – The ‘Anne Boleyn Wing’, comprising a series of 9 new suites and a breakfast room. Here Hamilton advised and fulfilled a bespoke brief. Designing and producing individual plates to meet the needs of the interior designer and the project installation.

Hever Castle Project interior designer Sarah Clark of Interiors at Nine to Eleven says: “I was initially drawn to Hamilton for its Mercury® Lighting Control system and range of stunning switch plates & sockets which perfectly suited the needs of this project. However I soon came to appreciate and value the fabulous personal service and consultative approach provided by the Hamilton Team. I know we achieved the best system we could for the space. Hamilton was outstanding and a pleasure to work with. Everyone I came in contact with gave huge attention to detail. The price was cost effective too and worked within our budget.”

Setting the mood
Mercury’s programmable multi-scene lighting control is ideal for projects that require changing ambient lighting. Control plates are available from the Hamilton collections, for that co-ordinated look.

Everything on a plate
Hamilton’s product range of high quality switch plates & sockets encompass 18 unique plate collections available in metal, plastic, wood and glass. A British company established in 1968, Hamilton Litestat has an eye for design and concern for quality within the interiors fashion industry. The company offers a complete consultative service across every type of interiors projects, regardless of scope and scale.

Contact Hamilton Litestat via their website for more details.

Embassy Suites Hotels, the Hilton Worldwide brand of upscale all-suite hotels, has announced the opening of their first property in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.As the premier full-service hotel in the market, Embassy Suites Tuscaloosa Downtown, AL boasts 154 spacious suites and features the brand’s latest design concept, Design Option III, and a new on-site restaurant, The Side by Side, led by James Beard award-winning chef, Chris Hastings. Embassy Suites Tuscaloosa Downtown, AL is owned by Tuscaloosa Hotel Partners, LLC and proudly managed by Wilson Hotel Management, LLC.

“Embassy Suites’ upscale accommodations, contemporary design and signature offerings will bring a solid option for travellers visiting this growing metropolitan area,” said John Rogers, global head, Embassy Suites Hotels. “The innovative Design Option III prototype will enhance the guest experience by offering guests more natural light in guest rooms and public areas like the atrium, while maintaining Embassy’s signature amenities.”

Situated in a lively retail and entertainment district, hotel guests and locals alike will enjoy the modern culinary offerings at the hotel’s restaurant, The Side by Side. James Beard award-winning chef, Chris Hastings, blends French, Southern and California-styles of cooking to create a bold menu of flavourful options. Taking cues from Alabama’s regional harvest and other fresh offerings by local artisans, the seasonal dishes and cocktails are served in the airy dining room featuring an open kitchen.

With 7,000 square feet of flexible meeting space comprising an executive boardroom and a divisible ballroom with 16 foot ceilings, Embassy Suites Tuscaloosa Downtown, AL can accommodate events for up to 500 people. The creative catering services, dedicated staff and state-of-the-art A/V technology will ensure the success of any conference, training seminar or celebration.

The new hotel features the brand’s signature amenities including its free made-to-order breakfast, a two-hour complimentary Evening Reception* with snacks and beverages, two-room suites with a separate living area, private bedroom, WiFi, 42-inch HDTV’s, a wet bar fitted with a microwave, a mini-fridge and a coffee maker. Guests also have access to the 24-hour Embassy BusinessLink™ Business Centre, an indoor swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness centre.

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas has announced that it will develop a resort in the southwest of Bali at Uluwatu, a 35-minute drive from Ngurah Rai International Airport. The resort is set atop a rugged cliff, sharing the spectacular ocean views with the island’s famed Uluwatu Temple.Drawing upon the renowned Six Senses commitment of providing top-tier facilities wedded to environmental responsibility, the resort and spa has been brilliantly designed and when combined with the innovative spirit of the owners, PT Cahaya Warna Prima, it will result in a rare development.

True to Six Senses inimitable style, Six Senses Bali will include 28 sky villas, 62 one–bedroom villas and seven two-bedroom villas that draw upon the local culture, embrace nature and offer every creature comfort. The ultimate in Six Senses accommodations, the expansive and beautifully-appointed Retreat Villa, sits on a prominent knoll with sweeping views of the ocean and overall resort. Two restaurants, a pool bar and a specialty restaurant with chef’s table, cooking school and extensive organic garden are planned.

Situated on a 30-acre (12-hectare) site, the project will be completed in two stages. The first phase includes the resort which rests on 16 acres (6.5 hectares) while phase two includes 60 residential villas available for purchase including luxurious three-bedroom family retreats.

“Six Senses is delighted to work with PT Cahaya Warna Prima on the Uluwatu development. The location is incredible and the design approach perfect for our brand. Innovative and fresh, this project will offer a new dimension in wellness for active and health-minded travellers,” said President Bernhard Bohnenberger of Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas.

In a famed island environment so deeply rooted with wellness and personal care, Six Senses Spa will be right in its element. The spa will feature locally-inspired specialty treatments together with an extensive menu of signature therapies. There will be something for everyone, from multi-day wellness programs to rejuvenation therapies and detox, as well as a selection of activities and complimentary morning yoga.

In addition to the Six Senses Spa, on-site activities will include a vast central pool and a gym. An event lawn will enhance the facilities of a beautiful ballroom, two meeting rooms and a wedding pavilion. The resort’s own Balinese temple will create a tranquil setting and present the true essence of the island’s deep cultural beliefs.

Six Senses Bali will include an Experiences Center that can arrange visits to everything that this legendary island has to offer, from sightseeing excursions, to cultural events plus over and underwater activities. This coastline is also one of the top places on the island see spectacular sunsets with sweeping panoramas out to the Indian Ocean.

Uluwatu is perhaps best known for Pura Luhur Uluwatu, one of the six key temples believed to be Bali’s spiritual pillars, renowned for its magnificent location, perched on top of a steep cliff approximately 250 feet (70 meters) above the sea. Ulu means top or tip and watu means stone or rock in Bahasa Indonesia. Several archaeological remains found here prove the temple to be of megalithic origin, dating back to around the 10th century.

Six Senses Bali is scheduled for completion by the end of 2017.

GROHE has recently launched its new website, with lots of new features and customer-friendly additions.Pinterest-style image galleries will act as mood boards to fire your imagination and encourage further exploration of products. Users can search by product name – with a smart-search function offering a dropdown of options as they type or browse by category and use the filters to include potential products that are most relevant to them.

This wish list of potential products can then be shortlisted to the notepad function, and favourites can be saved as a PDF to consult later or pass on to a showroom or architect.

A further improvement is that viewers will see every page on the new site optimized to whatever tablet, smartphone or PC they happen to be using.

There’s also a great new showroom locator with enhanced navigation to find your local GROHE showroom.

The 2015 specifiers guide is available online for download as well as other literature.

Royal warranted carpet manufacturer Brintons has recently designed and supplied a custom made carpet as part of a renovation works at the prestigious Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel in Bahrain.Owners of the hotel, National Hotels Company, commissioned the Kidderminster based manufacturer to supply a custom Axminster carpet and underlay for its newly renovated Grand Ambassador Ballroom.

Brintons worked in partnership with Design practice ASI and local representative Details Trading W.L.L. to help refurbish areas of the hotel, and the custom Axminster carpet features a beautiful contemporary design with an intricate scroll pattern, using an ochre colour palette.

The Diplomat Radisson Blu specified over 2,700 sqm2 of carpet for the ballroom, which is located on the ground and first floors and offers stunning views of the Bahrain skyline, accommodating up to 1,800 guests for functions.

Panos Panagis, General Manager at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, said: “The designers’ objective was to achieve a contemporary Arabic theme throughout the ballroom complemented by the carpet. The attention to detail and support offered by the Brintons’ team offered us the possibility to look at various options and appreciate the vision of the final product. The Ballroom’s success is proven by the great demand since it’s reopening is a testament to Britons’ expert quality of manufacturing and team quality.

“We chose Brintons on the basis of their long tradition in creating custom made solutions for carpeting in the luxury hospitality segment. The quality of the products is renowned in addition to the ability to manufacture specifications according to our needs. These two reasons were paramount in our choice of Brintons as our carpet supplier.”

The meeting and event facilities have been in operation for six months, and thousands of guests have enjoyed the services offered by Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa.

Panos added: “A substantial increase in demand shows that our choice of renovation material was well received in the market. Comments about the quality, feel and appearance of the carpet indicates to our correct approach in choosing Brintons as our carpet supplier.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) debuts its first boutique Hotel Indigo property in Scandinavia with the opening of Hotel Indigo® Helsinki – Boulevard. Opening on Bulevardi, the hotel is situated on one of the city’s most elegant, historic and diverse streets, connecting two contrasting worlds of design.As IHG’s boutique brand, every Hotel Indigo property is designed to reflect the local neighbourhood. From the hotel’s design and artwork, to the locally inspired menus, every Hotel Indigo is unique to its surroundings and so no two hotels are the same. Hotel Indigo Helsinki – Boulevard truly reflects the fabric of this design orientated neighbourhood right down to the murals on the walls – two of which were created by young Finnish graphic designers, Linda Linko and Pietari Posti.

To the east of the hotel, guests will find themselves immersed in the heart of the design district, Esplanadi — a community of galleries, Finnish designers such as Marimekko and Vuokko, and jewellery makers. To the west lies the Baltic Sea and the Hietalahti Shipyard, the core area for industrial design which has been responsible for developing the design of icebreaker ships for the last 150 years. Bulevardi, a Parisian-esque Boulevard lined with trees, shops and cafes lies in the middle of these two distinct areas and provides the perfect inspiration for the hotel’s premium aesthetic.

After a day of exploring the city’s charms, guests can head back to the hotel for a drink or bite to eat. The hotel will play host to two dining offers; Bröd, an 80-seater restaurant serving a selection of Finnish specialities, and Soup & Juice, a deli that will sit just inside the hotel providing a place for guests and locals to enjoy a fresh salad, sandwich or soup. Soup & Juice is the perfect example of Hotel Indigo’s new food and beverage philosophy that aims to create a local landmark by bringing the best food and drink artisans from the community into the hotels.

The 120 room hotel is very well connected with tram six, one of the oldest electrified tram networks in the world built in 1900, just outside the hotel and the airport and just a 30 minute drive away. All guestrooms have a complimentary minibar, Nespresso coffee machine maker and WiFi included in the room rate. What’s more, there is a 24/7 Body, Soul & Mind studio with gym, yoga room and Finnish Sauna & Steam Bath. For those travelling on business, the hotel offers a boardroom and 24/7 Business Corner.

New Myriad fabric from Forbes Group, made up into Contemporary table covers, won the company an order from the prestigious ClubLounge39 private members’ club on the 39th floor of One Canada Square, Canary Wharf.Myriad is available in an enormous eighty-colour range. In upholstery rub tests, it meets contract standards so it can certainly handle restaurant table usage. It is, like all Forbes fabrics, machine-washable and extremely durable.

The Contemporary table covers ordered by ClubLounge39 consist of a table topper and flat side panels assembled into a single piece to drop over dining tables without the need for fixings. The panelled construction at the sides makes them comfortable for diners to sit at and the neat design makes for only marginal loss of presentation standards while linen top cloths are changed between covers.

The elegant chic of the covers is an ideal match for a modern streamlined interior like that at ClubLounge39. Contemporary covers can be made up in bespoke combinations of Myriad colours, as required. They can also be supplied with table protectors to slip beneath, giving a slightly padded table top surface for noise reduction and luxury dining.

For further information, contact Forbes Group via info@forbesgroup.eu, www.forbesgroup.eu or by telephone on: 01568 616638

Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide’s global brand of more than 2,000 mid-priced hotels, has announced the official opening of the 160-room Hampton by Hilton Newcastle, located on Neville Street in the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne. The hotel, which is managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts on behalf of Baron House Hotel Limited is the first Hampton by Hilton property in Newcastle.

Hampton by Hilton Newcastle is located opposite Newcastle Central Station, ideal for travellers from major cities, such as Edinburgh, Manchester or London. The hotel is also conveniently close to Newcastle International Airport, which serves over 70 destinations, including direct flights to New York.

“Newcastle is renowned for its entertainment industry, bringing thousands of people to the city every year. We are located within a walking distance from the biggest attractions, such as Metro Arena, the Sage Gateshead and Newcastle United Football Club’s St James’ Park,” said Paolo Franchi, general manager, Hampton by Hilton Newcastle. “To be in line with that cheerful atmosphere, the hotel staff and I are bringing the Hamptonality spirit to Newcastle.”

The hotel offers the brand’s complimentary signature hot breakfast and Wi-Fi, available throughout the property. Guests can also enjoy 24-hour facilities such as fully equipped business and fitness centres, snack area and a bar. All rooms are equipped with HDTV, in-room coffee and tea maker and the brand’s signature Clean and fresh Hampton bed® to ensure complete guest comfort during their stay.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking the fifth Hyatt-branded hotel in the city. A sixth Hyatt-branded hotel, Hyatt Place Dubai/Baniyas Square, is expected to open in Dubai later this year. Each of the six properties is developed by wasl Hospitality, a subsidiary of wasl Asset Management, reflecting the strong and long-lasting relationship between the developer and Hyatt.With its two iconic high-rise towers piercing the sky at 164 meters/538 feet, Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights is ideally located next to the resurgent Dubai Creek, providing elaborate views across the water and stunning city skyline. The hotel offers easy access to Dubai International Airport, which is only 10 minutes away. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Wafi City, The Dubai Mall and the cultural heritage districts are easily accessible by all means of transportation, and Dubai Healthcare City metro station is located a short walk from the hotel.

The 464-room hotel offers distinctive design features, including a spacious lobby filled with 1,000 square meters/more than 3,200 square feet of plant walls, flowers and greenery, along with soothing water features and a towering glass ceiling embossed with Swarovski crystals. The open-to-the-sky view helps to bring the outdoor space into the heart of the hotel and illuminates the interior with the city’s year-round sunshine.

The hotel also features 76 luxury suites, including two Royal Suites, each stretching the entire length of the hotel’s top two stories. One of the suites features a wrap-around outdoor terrace with a 360-degree view, and the other is designed to include a 7-meter-/23-feet-high dome ceiling and skylights. All suites include access to the exclusive Regency Club lounge on the 32nd floor, providing views of the historic Dubai creek. The Regency Club embodies Hyatt Regency’s ‘hotel within a hotel’ concept, offering an exclusive and elegant space for distinguished guests to gather, relax and enjoy complimentary breakfast and cocktails.

Meetings and Events
With business travellers in focus, the hotel includes 3,200 square meters/10,500 square feet of conferencing facilities, including 13 meeting suites and two interchangeable ballrooms to host a range of events: weddings, conferences or meetings. For more private and intimate events, guest can choose Al Manzil, an exclusive residential-style, multi-event enclave or select one of the Royal Suites, perfect for luxurious private events.

Wellness
Offering the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation, hotel guests and visitors can unwind in the extensive NYSA Spa, featuring the Water Temple, a traditional Hammam, state-of-the-art male and female gymnasiums and workout studios. An outdoor pool and eight spa treatment rooms, including two couple suites, complete the wellness facilities. NYSA Spa also offers an innovative business-oriented express spa menu.

Dining
The hotel will open with Sufra, a buffet-style restaurant providing a culinary journey through the areas surrounding the Levant region. Sufra will feature an interior garden theme extended from the lobby. For gourmet grab-and-go options any time of day or night, guests will enjoy Market24, a 24-hour deli offering an authentic and modern approach to the classic pastry and coffee shop. The Lobby Lounge provides a comfortable and welcoming sense of arrival to the hotel, offering the perfect place for a business meeting, an afternoon snack or to catch up with friends. The Pool Bar offers an al fresco setting, allowing guests to unwind by the poolside. For added flexibility and convenience, the hotel also provides 24-hour in-room dining service.

La Tablita, expected to open in summer 2015, is a fun and exciting Mexican-themed restaurant filled with vibrant colours. The restaurant will offer home-style cuisine and reflect the kindness, hospitality and lively festive spirit for which Mexico is renowned.

Leonardo Hotels opens its first UK hotel. The group has agreed a new 25-year lease with The Standard Life Investments Pooled Pension Property Fund.Opening on 16 March in the former Holiday Inn on Bath Road, Heathrow, the 230-room hotel has been re-branded as the Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport. It will benefit from a substantial refurbishment bringing it in line with the distinctive Leonardo Hotels ‘look and feel’ that is already well established in a growing number of key European cities, such as Antwerp, Berlin, Bruges, Budapest, Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, and Zurich, as well as across Israel.

Saar Sharon, CEO of Leonardo Hotels UK, is leading the group’s expansion in the UK – with Heathrow being the first opening.

David Stewart, Fund Manager of the Standard Life Investments Pooled Pension Property Fund said: “We’re delighted to have completed the deal with Leonardo Hotels, which is fast becoming a key player in the European hotels market. Bath Road is a prime asset for the fund and securing a new lease with such a strong covenant is a significant achievement.”

Daniel Roger, Managing Director of Leonardo Hotels Europe, added: “We are pleased to announce that with this exciting hotel opening we are now poised for growth in the UK market. London Heathrow is a global hub where we can offer our guests an attractive hotel stay, build our UK business and continue to pursue our rigorous commitment to offer additional European destinations.”

Standard Life Investments was advised by CBRE.

Leonardo Hotel London Heathrow Airport will join the Fattal Hotels family with over 90 hotels and over 16,500 rooms in over 30 destinations in Europe and Israel. The refurbished Leonardo Airport Hotel London Heathrow will be the first Leonardo Hotel within the UK and the group has significant growth plans for the brand in the UK.

The elegant fully licensed three-star Westcliff Hotel in Westcliff, South Essex has been sold in an off market deal by leisure property specialist Fleurets. The hotel has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by MGM Muthu Hotels, part of M.G Muthu Group from India. Last December, Fleurets was instructed by the vendor on a confidential basis to put the hotel up for sale with an asking price of £1.8 million.

Fleurets Director Bob Whittle said “the Westcliff Hotel is a charming, well maintained and long-established hotel business with 55 en-suite letting bedrooms, many with sea views. There is also a spacious reception lounge, split level bar, 70-cover restaurant, two function suites and three syndicate rooms.”

Commanding a unique clifftop position, the Westcliff Hotel in Westcliff-on-Sea enjoys superb views across the Thames Estuary and is just a short walk from the popular Cliff’s Pavilion live theatre and within ½ mile of two railway stations providing a link to central London in just over 30 minutes. London Southend Airport is within a 15-minute drive.

The hotel represents the second UK asset of MGM Muthu Hotels, as Mr Kailayapillai Ranjan of Highgate Asset Management – who exclusively represents MGM Muthu Hotels in acquiring assets across UK and Europe – facilitated the acquisition through Fleurets of the Belstead Brook Muthu Hotel earlier in the year.

MGM Muthu Hotels, a Global Hotels group operates a total of 15 other properties in Portugal, Spain, India, Singapore, UK and the Caribbean, also has interests in other sectors including logistics, mining, construction and restaurants.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces the debut of Sunset Key Cottages as a Luxury Collection resort on an island off the coast of Florida’s cool and eclectic Key West. Introducing unparalleled luxury and personalized service to one of the country’s most coveted destinations, Sunset Key Cottages joins The Luxury Collection’s portfolio of 15 diverse hotels in North America, ranging from the iconic Palace Hotel in San Francisco to the modern, art-deco Chatwal hotel in New York. Poised on the secluded 27-acre island of Sunset Key, the alluring resort embraces the island’s stunning natural beauty, breathtaking ocean views and 40 luxuriously appointed two-, three- and four-bedroom cottages with quaint foot paths that lead guests through the resort’s lush tropical landscape. Guests are first greeted at the resort’s mainland porte-cochère and whisked away via private boat for a short cruise to Sunset Key Island. Guests are then welcomed by the resort’s signature cocktail, frozen-sweet treats and The Luxury Collection brand’s signature concierge service, who serve as a portal for travelers to discover the intriguing and less explored adventures of Key West.

Sunset Key Cottages features an exquisite epicurean experience at Latitudes, the resort’s waterfront all-day dining restaurant with seating on the water’s edge where guests are surrounded by gorgeous views of the Gulf of Mexico. The secluded resort also features an intimate spa with spacious treatment suites, a relaxation room, and private verandas for guests to relax after locally-inspired treatments including wraps, scrubs, facials, and massages. Destined to set new standards of luxury in South Florida, Sunset Key Cottages offers its discerning guests access to a state-of-the-art fitness center, two tennis courts, a basketball court, and signature ‘tropical free-form, zero-degree entry pool’.

As the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum prepares to open for its first full season, Scape Design Associates, the practice responsible for the resort’s stunning landscape design, has revealed its vision for this high profile project. It was, they say, the creation of a seamless flow between indoors and out where little bits of discovery as well as the big views all make for stunning memory-making moments.The Mandarin Oriental Bodrum is the hotel group’s first resort in Europe and is located on a 60 hectare site on the northern side of a peninsula offering panoramic views of the Aegean Sea. Built over a series of levels nestled in the landscaped hillside, the resort comprises 109 luxurious guestrooms and suites, all with sun-decks, terraces or balconies and many with a private garden and infinity edged pool. There are numerous restaurants and bars, an extensive spa and a wide range of leisure facilities, each painstakingly located between the hotel at the summit and two beautifully crafted beaches on the shoreline.

Working with the topography of the site and the existing olive groves, pine forest and natural water courses, the landscape designers was responsible for creating and siting the main public landscape areas, from arrival court to stepped swimming pools and spa gardens as well as external terraces to the main restaurants. The firm also designed the landscape to each villa. The challenge was to weave the landscape around the buildings, creating the sense that they both might have been there for years, naturally growing together over time like an ancient settlement on the shores of the sea.

The journey along the entry road winds through a forest where carefully selected and located trees frame views of the Aegean Sea below. The main lobby building sits astride a hillside spur surrounded by terraces of olive trees. A frame of fig trees and bougainvillea herald arrival at the hotel. Stone paths lead guests through the stepped landscape to the many pockets of amenities and on down to the beaches while an abundance of natural hillside planting and native grasses grow around and over local stone walls. Importantly, the landscape story cannot be seen in one view but rather is a series of interlocking spaces, some open, some intimate, that unfold along the journey. Although the overall site is quite compact, it feels large and offers much to discover thanks to its tiers and many secluded spaces.

Each built facility has its individually crafted location. The main pool deck, for example, benefits from tiered infinity edged pools; private cabanas dot the landscape under old trees, each one perfectly placed to capture stunning views and the speciality restaurant and beach bar are sited in the best waterfront location creating a unique entertainment venue hidden from the main hotel. The tranquil spa garden is a very special destination with a dramatic water feature carved through it, spilling into pools and secluded areas such as the outdoor sauna. The garden also offers up a tranquil tea lounge surrounded by water, while groupings of sculptural cypress trees and jasmine creepers fill the air with scent around the entrance to the treatment rooms.

Planting was key in blending buildings and landform. The retention and additional planting of large pine and olive trees was combined with a ground layer palette offering seasonal colour and fragrance. More than 500 semi-mature trees were purchased from Turkey and Italy and thousands of plants, mainly from local nurseries, were introduced. As a result, the gardens are full of Mediterranean colour and rich texture.

Other members of the design team included: architecture and interior design studio Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel and Partners from Milan, lighting designers Metis Lighting, also from Milan, and local interiors practice Metex Design from Istanbul.

January Highlights
• Dubai and Abu Dhabi: a different tale for two cities
• A robust January for Cairo and Doha
• The tides have turned for Kuwait hotels

The new Marriott Port-au-Prince Hotel has opened its doors to guests. Among the 200 new Haitian hotel workers who welcomed them were young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and Haitian-Americans who want to share their hospitality skills to help boost Haiti’s tourism economy. The stories of these new associates include Luccardo, who was recruited to work at the hotel’s front desk from the Nos Petits Frères et Soeurs orphanage, and Hermine, who was part of the hotel’s intern program and will be an entry-level supervisor. In addition to members of a Haitian-American executive team, the Haiti Marriott is led by a veteran Marriott general manager who was previously at the Marriott Champs Elysees in Paris. Joined by Haiti President Michel Martelly and former U.S. President Bill Clinton at a celebration ceremony, Digicel Group Chairman and Founder Denis O’Brien and Marriott International President – Caribbean & Latin America Region Craig S. Smith thanked the Kier Construction Company workers, sub-contractors and skilled Haitian construction workers who built the hotel and the Marriott associates who will host its guests. The hotel officially opened on March 1st. A formal grand opening event is planned for June.

The journey to build the Marriott Port-au-Prince began four years ago when Marriott International reached out to the Clinton Foundation to propose a new hotel to help Haiti rebuild its tourism industry after the devastating 2010 earthquake. The company found an eager partner in Digicel Group, which has invested US$45 million to build the 175-room hotel.

The Clinton Foundation worked closely with Marriott and Digicel Group to develop the hotel project. The Foundation visited proposed construction sites with the parties, facilitated introductions to the Haitian government and the Haitian Tourism Association, and encouraged all parties to use the hotel as an opportunity to create an economic anchor for the community. In addition to creating good, sustainable jobs for Haitians, the hotel incorporates Haitian art and artisan products into the hotel’s design and integrates green technologies such as solar to reduce the hotel’s environmental footprint. The Clinton Foundation also worked closely with Marriott and Digicel Group to identify and contract with Haitian entrepreneurs, small businesses and agricultural cooperatives that could provide goods and services to the hotel. This local procurement component has been an important aspect of the hotel’s development for all parties.

TDSA, the development company established by Digicel, managed the design/build contract and chose Marriott International’s flagship Marriott Hotels brand as its operating partner under a long-term management agreement. The hotel created more than 1,100 jobs throughout the construction stage.

Marriott’s interest in investing in Haiti was inspired in part by its associates, including thousands of Haitian-Americans who, after the earthquake, urged the company to help Haiti rebuild by planting the Marriott flag. Said Arne Sorenson, Marriott International President and CEO, “We believe we can make a difference in Haiti by promoting tourism, and developing local talent that can help lift this country, over time, back to being one of the top travel destinations in the Caribbean.”

Continued on page two…

The curtain will soon go up again at the Vasateatern theatre in Stockholm. After having stood empty since 2009, the classic private theatre will live once more in a new guise. A vibrant cultural scene for theatre and music will become a reality when the splendid building is joined to Scandic Grand Central to create a one-of- a-kind hotel with restaurants and bars. The design of Vasateatern is a cooperation between the leading hotel operator in the Nordic region, Scandic, and the owner of the property, KLP Fastigheter.One of Sweden’s oldest theatres dating from the 1890s – and whose foyer is already part of Scandic Grand Central – will finally be in the spotlight again. Visitors will be able to step directly from the hotel’s bistro into the historic and beautifully ornamented auditorium where legendary theatre directors such as Gösta Ekman senior and Karl Gerhard have performed, as well as contemporary actors like Mikael Persbrandt and Suzanne Reuter.

Scandic Grand Central has already distinguished itself as an ambitious venue for concerts and clubbing. With Vasateatern’s spacious and majestic stage, the hotel will be able to accommodate a larger audience. The theatre will be rented to production companies that put on smaller musical, theatrical and dance performances. Scandic Grand Central will also be able to arrange and host conferences for up to 1,000 people.

“Scandic has great plans for Vasateatern. We want to create a new type of meeting place and a cultural and entertainment scene at the same time as we contribute to maintaining and refining a valuable part of Swedish culture”, says Frank Fiskers, President & CEO, Scandic Hotels.

“KLP’s intention has been to restore Vasateatern to its original glory so that it will become a vibrant and diverse meeting place with cultural ambitions. We are now very happy to be able to realize this vision together with Scandic”, says Anette von Mentzer, who is responsible for KLP’s Swedish operations.

Vasateatern is a designated National Heritage Building and it will undergo a complete antiquarian restoration under the guidance of antique experts. Depending on the length of the renovation, the theatre is expected to reopen spring/summer 2016.

RHA furniture were proud to work with Hilton Birmingham Metropole last year on the re-design of their 24hr Lounge Bar.

For this project, RHA Furniture custom made over 150 beautifully crafted items and supplied over 100 items from contract furniture collections.The Lounge officially opened on the 30th January 2015, with a new furniture layout and carefully orchestrated design scheme; achieving a warm, welcoming home-from-home feel for the daytime, and a chic upmarket feel for the evening.

Overall seating capacity has been increased across the lounge, and the space offers multi-functional areas for dining, drinking, working and relaxing.

With over 20 years experience working with Hilton as an Approved Supplier, RHA Furniture were able to work closely with Hilton Head Office and General Manager, Patrick Stapleton, from the early stages of the project; providing a valuable contribution right through from the design and specification stage, to the final installation and after sales support.

Highlights include bespoke banquettes and high back chairs upholstered in luxurious velvet fabrics; coffee tables made with special bronze laminate tops; drum side tables with special bronze back painted glass tops, elegantly wrapped in Vinyl; a Connectivity Table in beautiful Walnut laminate finish, offering a practical space for guests to work or read in comfort.

The Lounge, Hilton Birmingham Metropole: Chairs and tables feature a mixture of custom made and Italian designs supplied by RHA Furniture. Many coffee tables were made with special finishes RHA’s UK factory. Silhouette Dusk carpet from The Mix collection by Ulster.

Custom made Connectivity Table: UK made by RHA Furniture in an oak frame with Walnut laminate finish, built-in power sockets and ultra slim desk lighting. Custom made armchairs in a Walnut finish with Teal coloured faux leather upholstery from Sekers.

Custom made coffee tables finished in a Walnut laminate with a bronze laminate top. Contour unit chairs from an Italian manufacturer, upholstered in fabric from Sinclaire.

Custom made coffee tables finished in a Walnut laminate with a bronze laminate top. Custom made high sofas upholstered in an Aubergine fabric from Sekers.

Custom made drum side tables with special bronze back painted glass top and base elegantly wrapped in Espresso coloured Vinyl from Panaz.

Custom made banquettes with rolled fluted backs, upholstered in a teal velvet from Sekers resulting in a luxurious sheen.

Dining tables with Walnut laminate tops and attractive bronze powder coated bases from Pedrali. Custom made dining chairs and wing back chairs by RHA Furniture, upholstered in a selection of fabric from Sekers, Sunbury and Sinclaire.

Custom made armchairs and high back armchairs by RHA Furniture, upholstered in luxurious velvet fabrics from Sekers.

Credits: Photography courtesy of Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
Design by Hilton Head Office.
Lighting by Chelsom

The Georgian House captured the world’s attention with the launch of its first Wizard Chambers in 2013. Now two years on Serena von der Heyde, owner, general manager and great great granddaughter of the hotel’s builder has invested £35,000 into developing a further two themed bedrooms, to meet rising demand. First launched in 2013, the two existing themed bedrooms have received interest on an international scale and are completely booked out three to four months in advance for weekend stays. The original Wizard Chambers were so sought after when opening that the money invested into their development was returned within just four months, inspiring Serena to add another two rooms to her hotel’s magical portfolio.

A part of its unique offering, guests have to pass through a passageway hidden inconspicuously behind a bookcase to reach the world renowned Wizard Chambers. With their stained glass windows, wood burners, pewter cookware, curious artefacts and four-poster beds draped with velvet curtains, these rooms see guests travel from across the globe for a magical overnight experience. The two new rooms have been designed to offer a more sophisticated feel especially for couples, not just families.

Owner Serena von der Heyde is the brains behind the Wizard Chambers. Inspired by the tales of sorcery and magic that she read to her children, she was keen to create rooms that would offer people visiting the city an enchanting experience.

Her imagination became reality with interior designer Diana Holmes transforming four of the 60 bedrooms within the 19th century family-run hotel. Each room offers an atmospheric escape with gothic-style features, cauldrons, potion bottles and spell books giving the impression of staying in a magical dormitory.

Serena commented on the further development saying, “The popularity of our Wizard Chambers has been incredible and we now have guests coming from all over the world to experience them. Following the launch of the first two bedrooms we have found that the revenue generated from each of the Wizard Chambers is almost three times more than that of one of our other boutique bedrooms.

“We have also seen the hotel’s occupancy rate rise to 91% and the average room rate throughout the hotel has risen by 120% since the Wizard Chambers’ launch. The feedback from review websites like TripAdvisor has been consistently high with the majority of guests rating the Wizard Chambers 5 out of 5. With such high demand we wanted to extend our offering even further and have created two new rooms that will retain the same magical charm whilst providing a sophisticated twist for a slightly more mature audience.

“We still want The Georgian House to be recognised for its exceptional standards, boutique style and home-from-home atmosphere found throughout the hotel. We are currently renovating six of our beautiful Belgravia Rooms and will continue to invest over the next few months, adding new features such as a freestanding beaten aluminium bath tub.”

Situated only a few minutes’ walk from Victoria station, the hotel adds to the South East’s already thriving wizarding experiences, ranging from the Warner Brothers Studio Tour – The Making of Harry Potter, in Hertfordshire to the popular Muggle Walking Tours in London.

Investment into the hotel sector will reach a peak in 2015, according to the latest European Hotel Market Survey launched today by international law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP). The report brings together the views of over 300 hotel industry professionals.Karen Friebe, BLP Hotels Group Partner unveiled the results of the survey as Berlin’s annual International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) kicked off today, 2 March 2015.

The survey found that well over two thirds (70 per cent) of respondents believe that hotels continue to outperform more traditional commercial property investments. A number of factors are thought to be behind this, including an increase in available capital and lending and investors diversifying.

Additionally, global transaction volumes have rocketed to levels not seen since the boom years prior to 2008. Over half (55 per cent) of respondents predict that Western Europe will benefit from the majority of global investment this year due to the stable geopolitical environment it offers. Supporting this, the flow of funds coming in from the Middle East, China and the USA into the Western European economy will likely continue.

Other key findings include:
• 88 per cent of survey respondents expect to see more restructuring or debt and refinancing deals this year with banks predicted to be the top debt providers, closely followed by debt funds.
• Franchising is ranked as the most important growth model followed by asset ownership and joint ventures.
• Private equity is leading the way as the top equity investor in the industry, with investment into Europe from North American groups set to continue in 2015.

Karen Friebe said: “Our survey reveals a strong and optimistic feeling around the hotel industry this year with investors being advised to capitalise on the current boom. It seems that the levels of activity and increased availability of debt and equity in the industry will be sustainable for at least the next 12 months.

“However, it is also fair to say that confidence in continued growth was much lower with this year’s survey respondents than with last year’s – an indicator that we are probably climbing closer to the top of the current cycle. In addition, hotels are still perceived by many as a risky asset class – meaning that the wider investment community could miss some attractive opportunities this year.”

European Hotel Market Survey 2015: Top Ten Trends
1. 70 per cent believe that hotels will continue to outperform “traditional” commercial property investments.
2. 80 per cent say hotels are becoming more of a valued asset class for investors, but are still perceived by many as risky.
3. Almost two thirds (62 per cent) think more hotels are taking on the franchising model for growth.
4. Hotels continue to face new distribution channels, causing a greater loss of control over room rates
5. 89 per cent foresaw increased competition from the residential market with short term lets.
6. 91 per cent of hotel professionals plan on increased spending into social media to help improve communications with clients.
7. There will be an increase in spending on technology within hotels (better Wi-Fi and in-room entertainment).
8. The past year has seen private equity displace other equity investors in the hotel sector
9. High net worth individuals are also heavily investing in trophy assets with markets such as London and Paris viewed as safe havens for investors.
10. Employee turnover rates are still higher than in the rest of the private sector.

BLP acts for clients across the entire lifecycle of hotel-related projects, including investment and development, lending, mergers and acquisitions, management agreements, franchising, operations, health and safety, licensing, tax, intellectual property and litigation. Its specialist hotels lawyers acted on over £1bn of hotel-related transactions last year.

Worldhotels expands its portfolio of branded hotels with the addition of Worldhotel Wings. The brand-new business hotel, which is located right at Rotterdam The Hague Airport and between Rotterdam city centre and The Hague, will welcome guests on March 21st, 2015. It will be the first branded hotel for Worldhotels in Rotterdam – and the third in the Netherlands. The Worldhotel Wings is a perfect base for local and international guests. It boasts 125 standard and business rooms, nine suites and eight apartments for extended stays. It is also perfectly suited for conferences and events, offering a wide variety of meeting and board rooms, a video conference room as well a 900 square metre event hall for large gatherings. A 24/7 fitness centre spread over two floors rounds off the hotel’s offering.

Worldhotels’ strong footprint in the market as well as its’ international brand exposure, are the reasons why Berry Gerretsen, General Manager of Worldhotel Wings, chose the group for his hotel: “We were looking for a strong partner who could position us internationally and Worldhotels was the perfect fit. Whilst leaving us full freedom to operate in line with our own strategies, the brand allows us to capitalize on Worldhotels’ commercial strength and its international reach.”

With this high-quality addition, Worldhotels is strengthening its presence in the Benelux market, where it currently represents 23 hotels, including three branded hotels: Worldhotel Grand Winston The Hague – Rijswijk, Worldhotel Bel Air The Hague and now Worldhotel Wings.

Rob van der Beek, Senior Director Hotel Development at Worldhotels, says: “The desire of the hotel to stay operationally independent, while receiving the support of a global brand, is a text book example why Worldhotels introduced its branded solution a few years ago.”

“We are very pleased to welcome Worldhotel Wings to our global portfolio”, adds Robert van der Graaf, Vice President Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Worldhotel Wings is our 7th Worldhotel in Europe, Middle East and Africa and the 20th worldwide. Our branded hotels rely on Worldhotels’ sales strength and our Net RevPAR* driving support which goes beyond traditional system delivery business. Due to its moderate variable costs that are based on total room revenue, the model is being recognized as a high return on investment solution – and an ideal alternative to other franchise models in the market.”

* Revenue per available room minus distribution costs.

Wilton Carpets Commercial has launched a stunning new ‘Bespoke Installations’ brochure cataloguing just a small selection of its custom carpets created for hospitality, heritage, sports and leisure venues across the globe. Focusing on the stunning carpets that have been created for venues such as Ireland’s Patrick Guilbaud Restaurant, Bath’s iconic Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, the magnificent Leeds Civic Hall and London’s Imperial Hotel, as well as cinemas, bowling alleys, public houses and sports centres; the brochure is a fascinating insight into Wilton’s wealth of successful projects.

From stunning boldly coloured contemporary creations to reimagined traditional designs and faithful reproductions, Wilton Carpets Commercial has become one of the UK’s foremost bespoke carpet manufacturers, a fact only highlighted by the projects and locations featured over 20 pages. Detailing complex and intricate layouts, designer feedback and packed full of stunning installation photography, this is literature sure to inspire and inform in equal measure.

The Wiltshire-based manufacturer has also revealed a new Colour Swatch Guide book detailing all the house colours available. Similar to colour books from referencing systems such as Pantone®, this fan-style collection gives a precise indication as the exact colour, helping designers to create perfect matches to colours found within their scheme. Showing the closest printed possible colour to the yarn found within the manufacturer’s tuft box, the handy format will become an invaluable desktop reference tool for interior designers.

“We simply love the creative and bespoke process here at Wilton Carpets Commercial and relish the challenges that such work often brings,” comments Suna Jones, marketing manager, Wilton Carpets. “Having completed some truly outstanding projects over the last few years, we really wanted to show just how adaptable our bespoke service is working on all manner of scale and style of project and always with fabulous end results. The Bespoke Installations brochure and Colour Swatch Guide book are just two ways we can help to make the process simpler and more inclusive for all.”

Noisy rooms are still the No. 1 complaint among hotel guests world wide. Now that their reviews have a serious impact on hotel policies, hotels will increasingly feel the need to create quiet rooms. And now there is a truly objective measuring system for quiet hotel rooms: the Quiet Room® label. The Quiet Room® label aims to stimulate the creation of quiet hotel rooms and provide information for travellers looking for quiet hotel rooms. Hotels interested in acquiring the Quiet Room® label have to meet severe standards and are thoroughly tested.The Quiet Room® label provides a classification for silent hotel rooms with 3 categories. Rooms that meet the standards are by definition well built and sound insulated. Travellers looking for a quiet hotel room van visit the label’s website at www.quiethotelroom.org/en/

Dutch hotels will now start using the system of the Hotelstars Union which is used by Germany, Denmark and the Benelux countries among others. But here is the catch: hotels are free to join in or not. In fact they are free to award themselves as many stars as they want. Strange?

Yes and no. Yes, because the star rating system pretends to be a help to travellers and offer some indication of the standards and services of hotels. Well, that is now really a thing of the past. No, because hotel stars have lately been losing their importance: traveller’s reviews and their impact on hotels’ reputations have become much more important.

This is a welcome development, because after all it’s the travellers who pay for the services. It forces hotels to listen even more carefully to their guests. And it will also help to correct a blatant omission in the star rating system: the absence of noise and sound insulation as a criterion in the grading of hotels.

Marriott International continues its dynamic growth in India with the latest opening of the Courtyard by Marriott Agra. Located in the beautiful city of Agra, home to the world renowned “Taj Mahal”, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Courtyard by Marriott Agra is the 12th property for the brand in India. The hotel endeavour’s to be a preferred getaway destination offering Indian hospitality with an international flair. Well-appointed rooms, varied F&B options and expansive indoor and outdoor event spaces ensure that every stay is truly memorable, be it dedicated to work or family. The 189-room property is designed to anticipate guests’ basic needs—functionality, safety, consistency, comfort and value—providing a warm, sophisticated environment and a variety of options that allow guests to stay connected, productive and refreshed during their stay.

With the Taj Mahal in close proximity, the hotel boasts the largest suite inventory in the city – ideal for long stay business or leisure alike. The elegantly structured architecture with 189 well-appointed guest rooms and 18 exquisite suites offers a sense of warmth and comfort. The thoughtfully designed rooms provide the optimum balance between work and relaxation, with state of the art amenities and wonderful views of the landscaped gardens or the pool, perfectly complemented by a selection of dining options, recreation and wellness facilities.

The hotel also offers large conference and banquet facilities, with more than 30,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor banquet space, which can accommodate up to 1200 guests.Magnificent lawn and extensive banqueting spaces make a perfect setting for social or business engagements. An on-site events team will ensure flawless coordination and execution, be it a lavish wedding or social event.

Guests are invited to explore three unique restaurants on property. MoMo Cafe, a chic all day dining restaurant which is contemporary, warm, welcoming and offers a gastronomic à la carte and the largest buffet spread in Agra, with a menu featuring fresh ingredients and international flavors. MoMo 2 Go, the coffee shop certifies the best bakery in town while MoMo To You, a round-the-clock in-room dining menu offers guests the option of dining in the comfort of their rooms. Onyx Bar at the hotel serves a selection of spirits, wines and cocktails with delectable finger-foods to go, giving our patrons and guests, that perfect backdrop to just sit back and unwind, at close of day.

Councillor Jim Broadhead was joined by Gary Steele, Travelodge Regional Director, to officially open the town’s first branded budget hotel, Egham Travelodge on March 3rd.The 80-room property, which is the Company’s 517th hotel, is situated in the heart of the town centre and is close to some of the UK’s top attractions such as Thorpe Park and Legoland. The new hotel represents an investment of £5.2 million and has created 15 new jobs within the community.

With the new addition of Egham Travelodge, the company now operates 18 hotels across Surrey and as part of its ongoing commitment to grow its business in the area, Travelodge has recently invested £1.5 million modernising 13 of its hotels with its new brand design. Currently Leatherhead Travelodge is undergoing a brand make-over at an investment cost of £300,000.

Gary Steele, Travelodge Regional Director said: “We are delighted to open the first branded budget hotel in Egham town centre. There is a growing demand for good value accommodation within the area and our new hotel is a great base for business and leisure travellers visiting Egham. By offering great quality rooms at unbeatable value we will help attract new vistors to the area. This will help to boost the local economy by £2 million annually and cement our position as the county’s favourite hotel brand for value.

“Surrey is a key growth area for us and as part of our development strategy we are looking to grow our portfolio of 18 hotels in the county. We are looking for new hotel sites in Guildford, Shepperton and Molesley.”

Egham Travelodge is being managed by Ewa Sniegula, who started her career as a guest room cleaner at Langley Travelodge in 2010. In 2012 Ewa completed the company’s Gaining Entry into Management (GEM) programme, which fast tracks entry level staff into management, and she took over her first management post at Twickenham Travelodge in 2013.

Ewa used the Company’s partnership with the Job Centre Plus Scheme – which helps the long term unemployed back into work – to recruit her team of 15.

The hotel has been designed in the Company’s new contemporary brand design and features the new Travelodge room which has been created by business and leisure customers (see page two for full details).

Egham Travelodge offers a range of rooms which includes: family, double and accessible. A Travelodge family room caters for either two adults and two children or three adults. The room features two space saving comfy truckle beds, providing an enhanced service for families staying in the room. When the beds are in use the base can be used for storing luggage, providing extra space in the 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 Wi-Fi for 30 minutes and then £3 for up to 24 hours.

Having made a significant impact on the design world since the launch of his eponymous surfaces portfolio, Fameed Khalique is now taking his discerning eye for unique materials to create KHALIQUE – a lifestyle and homeware brand that takes the company into the realm of product design for the first time.This beautifully crafted and created collection for the retail interiors market marks the unveiling of the first KHALIQUE branded products that will give design-lovers easy access to the quality and aesthetic of the company’s unrivalled materials library and its bespoke creations. The collection opens up a wealth of distinctive and unexpected materials, including metallic woven leathers, peacock feathers, hand-embroidery and tactile suede and hide offering exquisite finishes ‘prêt à porter’.

With over 40 individual cushion designs, each piece is crafted to appreciate and celebrate the unique texture and detail of the material leading to a complete collection that is sometimes playful and frivolous and at other times deeply masculine and bold.

Diverse and striking, the cushions celebrate key elements of the Fameed Khalique design ethos, incorporating high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship with unusual and specialist techniques to create timeless designs. Inspiration has been drawn from within the company’s own portfolio – bronze metallic leathers, romantic pale pink feathers, silk appliqué and delicate ribbon embroidery showcase a small section of fabulous materials translated into simple, elegant pieces that create a final layer of detail.

Metallics
A combination of otherworldliness with the underlying strength of Greek mythology inspired this collection of glamorous yet understated metallics. Layers of copper, gunmetal grey and silvery hues alongside the luminous forest green of real peacock feathers woven meld to inject a contemporary edge to a variety of settings.

Textures
Fameed’s background in fashion is an important influence throughout his work and the tailored craftsmanship of a Savile Row couturier characterises this range of masculine pieces. Woven leathers sit beside bold geometric-designs and textured hides in a strong colour palette of charcoal, graphite, teal and scarlet to create an inviting collection of cushions to update a pared-back scheme.

This range is an effortless statement with inspiration taken from the best of fashion and design combined with an insider’s eye for quality.

Salon
Delicate embroidery, beading and intricate sequin detailing celebrate the end of minimalism in the home. This is a softer more feminine range, embracing the glitz and glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood and the revival of a confident adornment of our living spaces.

A palette of berry colours, blush pinks and sorbet shades combined with feather detailing, hand screen-printed velvet and mother-of-pearl hand-embroidery showcase the possibilities achievable by combining high-quality materials with specialist techniques.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it is expanding its footprint in Germany with the signing of the Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade. The franchise agreement with Esplanade Operation GmbH, a subsidiary of Host Hotels & Resorts’ European joint venture, marks the conversion of the existing Grand Hotel Esplanade to a Sheraton hotel. The hotel continues to be operated by EVENT Hotel Group, which also holds a minority interest in the property. “We look forward to partnering with Esplanade Operation GmbH on this major conversion as we launch our iconic Sheraton brand in a vibrant metropolis such as Berlin. Furthermore, we are delighted to strengthen our collaboration with EVENT Hotel Group which also operates our other hotel in the city, The Westin Grand, Berlin,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Becoming the 11th Sheraton in Germany, we are confident that Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade will reinforce the brand’s position as an unparalleled global leader in the hospitality sector.”

“We are excited to extend our partnership with Starwood in Europe by converting this historic hotel to a Sheraton property under a franchise agreement,” said James F. Risoleo, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, Europe of Host Hotels & Resorts. “We believe in the power of the Sheraton brand as well as in Starwood’s global expertise and systems. Together with Starwood and EVENT Hotel Group, this winning combination will create substantial value for this hotel.”

The 394-room Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade has an all-day dining restaurant and a German-specialty restaurant, as well as Harry’s New York Bar and a lobby bar. Other facilities include a swimming pool and 12 meeting rooms.

Over the next several months, the hotel will unveil the Sheraton brand’s signature offerings including a Sheraton Club lounge, Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft® where guests can come together to meet, connect and relax, and the revolutionary health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness.

“There are many conversion opportunities for new Starwood hotels throughout Europe in both established and emerging destinations, through both managed and franchised deals,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “Berlin is the gateway to Central and Eastern Europe and this signing underscores our commitment to growth in the region.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., has announced the opening of the Sheraton McKinney Hotel and Conference Center in McKinney, Texas. Owned by Gateway Hotel One, Ltd., the hotel offers 186 guest rooms and suites, ample meeting facilities and all of Sheraton’s signature services and amenities. The property will celebrate its opening today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and private reception attended by McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller and members of the McKinney Chamber of Commerce. “We are delighted to welcome travelers to Sheraton McKinney and to one of the fastest growing cities in the United States,” said Ryan Miyamoto, General Manager, Sheraton McKinney. “We look forward to bringing the brand to life and are eager to witness the impact that this hotel will have on the community. As Sheraton embarks on another year of record-breaking growth, the opening of Sheraton McKinney will further reinforce Sheraton as the most global hotel brand.”

“The whole city has been looking forward to the opening of this Sheraton hotel, and we’re excited that the day is here,” said McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller. “The meeting space and the hotel accommodations in this high-profile development in the city’s gateway will expand our ability to market the city to new corporate clients and visitors.”

Sheraton McKinney features more than 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The hotel features an outdoor pool, contemporary dining at Sweetwater Bar & Grill and a fully equipped fitness facility featuring the brand’s revolutionary new health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness by Core® Performance.

“The Sheraton McKinney Hotel and Conference Center was designed to provide hospitality, conference and meeting spaces that are all in demand from residents, businesses and visitors to our city,” said MCDC Board Chair Scott Elliott. “We’re excited and looking forward to opening day, and the continuing expansion of the city’s vision for McKinney’s ‘front door’.”

On 3rd February 2015 the fulfilment of all conditions for the acquisition of the Sanitec Group by Geberit was announced. As part of the integration of the two groups, Geberit is delighted to announce the appointment of Mark Larden as new Managing Director for the integrated companies of Geberit and Twyford in the UK / Ireland. Mark Larden will start his new role as of 7th April – until then, the current management teams continue to lead the business as usual.Geberit thanks Brent Hudson for his successes with Twyford and is pleased to announce that he will take on a new role within the management of the combined business. Brent’s new role will be communicated along with the announcement of the new UK / Ireland management team.

The new management team of the integrated companies will be announced by 7th April at which date the new roles become effective. From this day there will be no changes to the day-to-day operations as the breadth of the combined organisation will continue in parallel until further notice. Any changes to existing contact points within Geberit and Twyford will be communicated directly to all customers and stakeholders as they become effective.

Business continuity and uninterrupted service remain our highest priority as we prepare to integrate the two companies.

LaGare Hotel Milano Centrale welcomes its guests in a contemporary and modern style, offering them maximum comfort and convenience. The pleasant combination of design, high-level furniture and the great attention towards the guests’ needs leads up to a personalized, impeccable service and recreates a refined atmosphere.The implementation of the eco-friendly philosophy, during all the construction phases, allowed us to achieve the LEED Gold Certification. In addition, the most modern systems with zero impact have been used to provide the necessary energy for the daily needs and the environmental impact will be limited due to the use of the principles of geothermal energy. All this, combined with the proximity of the most important travel facilities, will make your stay memorable.

A high standard service ensuring that guests live an unforgettable experience in a relaxed and luxurious atmosphere.

• Restaurants and Bars
The hotel offers two restaurants: LaGare Bistrot, at the 4th floor, which proposes, also on its splendid terrace, an exclusive menu à la carte in an elegant and refined atmosphere; LaGare Rooftop, located at the 13th floor, with its breathtaking view on the skyline of the New District of Porta Nuova, is an ideal place to enjoy high quality gastronomy and drinks. At the ground floor, the LaGare Café, offers smart courses as well as quick and tasty snacks.
• Roof garden
The roof garden located on the 13th floor is perfect for the organization of Food & Beverage services for your events in addition to the restaurant on the 4th floor with its beautiful terrace.
• Meetings and conferences
The LaGare Hotel Milano Centrale is a reference point in the proposal of spaces for meetings and conferences. With 400 square meters (4.300 sq.ft) of flexible rooms with natural daylight, equipped with the latest audio and video technologies.
• Spa
With an area of 400 square meters (4.300 sq.ft), our SPA is the ideal place to enjoy a moment of pure relax and relieve the stress of the tasks of the day. With sauna, turkish bath, emotional showers with chromo and aroma therapy and a gym equipped with
the most modern machines.
• Free internet WI-FI
• Laundry
• Garage

The 141 rooms (Superior, Deluxe, Junior Suite, Suite), all spacious, are furnished in a modern and functional style. The precious materials, the wood floors and the sophisticated colour palette of the furniture and textiles create a warm atmosphere, without leaving aside indispensable services: free wi-fi, air conditioned, desk station with a direct telephone, satellite TV with free SKY TV channels.

In the new pulsating heart of Milan, near the Porta Nuova’s skyscrapers and the high-speed railway, LaGare Hotel Milano Centrale is the ideal starting point for discovering the city with its tourist destinations and a privileged access to the nightlife of Garibaldi District. Two underground stations are at 2 minuts walking distance as well as the Central railway Station with direct connection to the exhibition center in Rho-Pero (home of the most important fairs in Milan included Expo2015).

Surrey’s stylish Brooklands Hotel, a contemporary, design-led property located on the site of the historic Brooklands motor racing track, has announced the opening of 11 additional bedrooms and the renaming of four of the hotel’s super suites.Previously a 120 bedroom property, the hotel now offers 131. Brooklands Hotel is home to some of the largest rooms of any UK hotel, with guests’ enjoying an abundance of natural light, thanks to floor to ceiling windows in all rooms, and many of the rooms benefit from panoramic views of the neighbouring Mercedes-Benz World race track.

The additional guest rooms have taken the tally to 62 ‘Deluxe’, 45 ‘Deluxe Front Facing’, nine ‘Executive’, three ‘Executive Front Facing’, five ‘Family’, four ‘Super Suite with Balcony’ and three ‘Panoramic Suite with Balcony’, including the renowned ‘319’ suite.

A recent announcement that £4.68million has been awarded to the neighbouring Brooklands Museum for its long-term ‘Brooklands Aircraft Factory & Race Track Revival Project’, means an exciting new attraction is on the horizon for the area which will increase demand on the already very popular hotel.

References to the hotel’s location on the iconic former Brooklands race track, the birthplace of British motor racing, are found in many architectural and design details which have been inspired by the early racing scene’s heyday of the 1920s and 1930s. A quartz and granite contour of the original track runs through the reception, art-deco patterns have been brought up to date with a modern interpretation and a Charlie Whinny wood sculpture in the atrium echoes the curves of the race track.

In keeping with the history and theme of its location, Brooklands Hotel has announced new names for four of the super suites:

• The ‘Kay Petre’ Suite
Legendary female racer Kay Petre was a star at the legendary Brooklands track and the exploits of this 4’ 10″ woman caused a media sensation at the time. The abiding image of Kay is a tiny woman seated in a huge 10.5 litre V12 Delage, the car in which she battled for the Women’s Outer Circuit Record with Gwenda Stewart. Kay gained the upper hand on 26 October 1934 with a 129.58 mph lap.

• The ‘Noel Pope’ Suite
Noel B. Pope had a successful career as a motor-cycle racer at Brooklands during the 1930s. He raced Broughs and is remembered for holding the ultimate track record for solo and sidecar laps on a supercharged Brough Superior, 106.6mph with a sidecar in 1937 and 124.51mph on a solo machine in 1939.

• The ‘Selwyn Edge’ Suite
In June 1907, Edge broke the 24-hour distance record, driving a 60 hp (44.7 kW) Napier six, at the newly opened Brooklands track, accompanied by riding-mechanic Joseph H Blackburn. In 1922 Edge returned to Brooklands in a Spyker setting a new “Double 12” world record covering 1,782 miles 1,066 yards (2,868 km 693 m) at an average speed of 74.27 mph (119.53 km/h) for the aggregate 24 hours.

• The ‘Percy Lambert’ Suite
Percy first raced at Brooklands in 1910, driving a Streamlined Austin called ‘Pearly III’. Lambert became the first person to cover a hundred miles in an hour, a record set on 15 February 1913 when driving his 4.5 litre side valve Talbot. He actually covered 103 miles and 1470 yards in sixty minutes. However, Lambert was killed at Brooklands on 21 October 1913, while trying to regain his land speed record from Peugeot.

Brooklands Hotel is home to many excellent facilities, including the AA Rosette-winning ‘1907 Restaurant Bar & Grill’ headed up by critically acclaimed chef Norman Farquharson, luxurious BSpa with treatment rooms and outdoor hot tub, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and extensive multi-purpose conference and event spaces.

Hotel owner and operator, Somerston Hotels announces that it is changing its company name to Atlas Hotels, with effect from 27 February 2015. The change of name has been triggered by the recent acquisition of Somerston Hotels by private equity firm Lone Star. This acquisition now puts the former Morethan Hotels portfolio (previously managed for Lone Star by Somerston Hotels) and the Somerston Hotels portfolio under the same ownership, complete with a new name and identity.

Atlas Hotels will continue to be operated by the former Somerston Hotels management team, led by Managing Director, Keith Griffiths. While the Somerston Group is no longer a shareholder in Atlas Hotels, the heritage and strength of the relationship between the two organisations means that Somerston Capital, led by its Managing Director, Shaun Robinson, will continue as strategic advisor on the portfolio.

Atlas Hotels, in conjunction with Somerston Capital, has signed a Multiple Development Agreement with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), which extends the life of the current franchise agreements by a further 15 years and also sets out the joint plan to develop a minimum of 1,000 additional IHG® bedrooms by the end of 2018.

Atlas Hotels also plans to continue to develop additional Hampton by Hilton hotels with Hilton Worldwide.

Somerston Capital will be the developer of new build projects with responsibility for site acquisition and the provision of development management services to Atlas Hotels. In excess of 850 rooms are currently under contract or in advanced negotiation.

Atlas Hotels currently owns and operates 47 Holiday Inn Express and one Hampton by Hilton hotel; the 48 hotels have 5,725 bedrooms and are located in key business and leisure destinations throughout the United Kingdom.

These growth plans will lead to a portfolio of in excess of 60 hotels with some 7,500 rooms within the next few years.

Keith Griffiths, Atlas Hotels’ Managing Director, commented: “We are delighted to be combining the portfolios under the Atlas Hotels name. The values and identity of the company will remain as strong and clear as they have always been and our mission continues to be one of achieving success by putting guest experience and satisfaction at the heart of our business.

“2014 was an exciting year for the company with significant financial growth, above-market RevPar increase for the third consecutive year, record levels of guest and employee satisfaction and a big increase in the size of the company.

“We will now embark on further growth through building out our substantial development pipeline, whilst also keeping a look out for acquisition opportunities. We can’t wait to get started on the next phase of the company’s growth and development.”

Shaun Robinson, Managing Director at Somerston Capital, also commented: “We are excited to continue to work with Atlas Hotels to grow the portfolio through both development and acquisition to help to achieve the objectives of the enlarged group.”

Chair covers from Forbes Group can be a useful and cost-effective tool in ringing the changes in your venue. They freshen up a room, change the season or convey a sense of occasion – all giving your clients a reason to book with you again.When Spring’s here, the wedding season can’t be far behind. Being able to dress your room for such a special event may well give you the competitive edge with brides (and their parents).

And since Forbes’ seamstresses are making them especially for your chairs you’re free to specify your own personal touch – matching or contrasting bow, organza sash, or classic design with either centre front or corner pleats? With over 250 colours in the Forbes range of fabrics, there will be something to suit your venue.

Forbes’ sales team will be happy to visit and advise if it would help. They’ll also organise getting one of your chairs to the Herefordshire factory to make you a sample cover so that you can see it on your own chair before you buy.

For further information, contact Forbes Group: info@forbesgroup.eu | www.forbesgroup.eu | +44 (0)1568 616638

We are delighted to announce the launch of the newly redesigned Brintons EMEA Stocked Range brochure. With a fresh and modern format, it features both new products and existing favourites.The new Brochure also gives an exciting preview of a forthcoming Brintons range which will be available from May; City Plaids a collection of 5 modern designs in soft antique hues play alongside cool blues and soft greys and have been jazzed up with a hint of hot pink. The subtle colour palette of City Plaids gives a fashionable edge to this iconic design.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced the signing Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta with PT Umah Benesari. Located in the suburb of Kuta, one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island of Bali, the new-build hotel is scheduled to open in May 2015. Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta joins Starwood’s already dynamic and robust portfolio in Indonesia. The company currently operates 14 properties nationwide under its Sheraton, Westin, Le Méridien, St. Regis, W Hotels and The Luxury Collection brand flags. In the next four years, Starwood will continue to ramp up its growth in Indonesia, with plans to open 12 additional hotels across the country. Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta marks Starwood’s seventh property in Bali, with another two, The Westin Ubud and The Saraswati, a Luxury Collection Resort, Bali, slated for opening by 2016.

Located on Jalan Benesari, Banjar Pengabetan, Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta occupies a serene area of Kuta. The hotel is just minutes away from the famous Kuta Beach and its nightlife, shops and restaurants. Just a half-hour drive north of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, Four Points by Sheraton Bali, Kuta will feature 186 stylish and contemporary guest rooms, ranging from 28 to 55 square meters in size. Each room will sport thoughtful touches that contribute to an unencumbered, comfortable stay, including the Four Points Signature Bed, consisting of a plush mattress, down pillows, cozy duvet, and crisp 250-thread-count sheets. Food and beverage venues will include an all-day dining restaurant, rooftop club, lobby bar and beer garden café. The latter will feature the brand’s signature Best Brews™ program, highlighting the best local draft beers. Other hotel facilities will include a fitness centre, 180 square meters of meeting space and a Kids’ Club. In addition, guests will enjoy complimentary Internet access in all public spaces, bottled water, and signature breakfast with fresh coffee.

January Highlights
• Provinces perform; London lags
• Aberdeen profits follow oil price drop
• Glad all over Liverpool

Pro Auction of Bath announces an auction of the entire contents of Walton Cottage Hotel & Suites in Marlow Road, Maidenhead, West Berkshire SL6 7LT. The entire contents will go under the gavel over a two day auction and will encompass everything at the premises, from the 72 superbly appointed rooms and suites, all guest areas, including the bar, foyer areas, restaurant, full commercial kitchens, on site laundry and the gardens and open spaces on the 8th & 9th April 2015.The sale will be live from The Hotel premises and webcast over the internet via the BidSpotter platform. Viewing is available to the public on the 7th April 2015 and prior to the sale commencing each day at 10.30am on Tuesday and Wednesday.

McCarthy & Stone, following consultation with local residents, community representatives and Windsor & Maidenhead Council’s planning officers has submitted a planning application to the Council to redevelop the site with a development consisting of 61 Assisted Living (Extra Care) apartments. In addition, the proposals will include attractive landscaping and planting on the site with a high-quality landscape plan.

The event offers both the hospitality industry and individual buyers an unrivalled opportunity to purchase the contents of this first class hotel at a fraction of new replacement cost. The property, has recently had an extensive led refurbishment and the lots offered are in impeccable order. Items of note include the contents of the quality 72 hotel rooms and suites and the contents of lobbies, offices, modern fully equipped kitchens, together with crockery, cutlery, soft furnishings, boilers , laundry equipment, housekeeping and back of house are to be included within the sale. In total, there are over 1,300 lots – constantly upgraded to meet the requirements of a hotel of the Waltons position, and follows the sale of the land to developers McCarthy & Stone.

The two day auction takes place over two days commencing 8th April 2015 at Marlow Road, Maidenhead, West Berkshire SL6 7LT at 10:30am. The auction will also be available via a live webcast. The viewing takes place from 8.30am-4.30pm on 7th April 2015. Online bidding is possible through www.bidSpotter.co.uk. Catalogues are available by calling (44) 01761 414000 or via a download from the auctioneers website.

Mark Flynn of Pro Auction comments: “The sale presents a rare opportunity to acquire quality assets quickly and cost effectively given such a large quality hotel, It is possible for bidders to buy the entire contents of the bedrooms with three types of accommodation schemes to attract a variety of buyers and scales of purchase, accommodating the quality of a classic hotel, given we are selling everything within the hotel we expect the sale to be of interest to a wide base of other hoteliers and people in the hospitality industry generally.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces the launch of its game-changing Aloft® brand in Detroit, following the completion of an adaptive re-use project that has transformed the historic David Whitney building. Located at One Park Avenue, Aloft Detroit at The David Whitney features 136 spacious, loft-like rooms, forward-thinking design and an energetic, social atmosphere – all at an affordable price point. The hotel is owned and developed by Whitey Partners, LLC, a joint venture between The Roxbury Group and VOS Hospitality, the lifestyle/boutique division of Trans Inns Management, Inc. Listed on the National Historic Register, the David Whitney building was built in 1915 to anchor the northern end of the Grand Circus Park shopping district. The adaptive re-use project restored the decorative exterior elements that were removed in 1959, as well as the four-story lobby with glass atrium, while thoroughly renovating all floors of the building. Aloft Detroit at The David Whitney is walking distance to Comerica Park, the Arts & Entertainment District and Detroit Opera House, and convenient to Ford Field, Fox Theatre, Joe Louis Arena, several casinos, and the headquarters of General Motors, Ford Motor Company and other Fortune 500 companies.

Amenities at Aloft Detroit at The David Whitney include the brand’s signature W XYZ® bar with live music performances by emerging artists, a 24-hour fitness center and 6,670 square feet of flexible meeting space. The hotel’s bright and airy guestrooms feature the ultra-comfortable signature Aloft bed, Bliss® Bath amenities, a 42-inch LCD television and a plug & play station for electronics.

The Aloft brand’s innovative and exclusive initiatives set it apart. Aloft Hotels, the tech-forward, innovation hub for millennial-minded travelers, recently announced the appointment of A.L.O. as the hotel brand’s first Botlr™ (robotic butler) at its Cupertino property. This forward thinking innovation makes Aloft the first major hotel brand to hire a robot for both front and back of house duties. Additionally, every Aloft Hotel around the world offers live, free access to local emerging artists as well as some of the hottest bands with Live at Aloft Hotels programming at the W XYZ bars.

Set to open in early summer 2015, Six Senses Spa Marbella is located at the charming Puente Romano Beach Resort situated in the Costa del Sol on the southern coast of Spain. The spa has been beautifully created to complement the hotel’s charming and peaceful Andalusia beachfront village character.Taking the cue from Six Senses’ philosophy, the spa’s design combines indigenous features such as whitewashed walls and hand-painted tiles together with natural stone and locally sourced materials, evoking a strong sense of place wedded to environmental commitment.

Local architecture and craftsmanship have provided inspiration for interior features which include six ground floor treatment rooms. Their contemporary wall designs created from blue and white painted tiles are complemented by natural oak timber floors, arched doorways and vaulted ceilings, creating a warm and inviting ambience.

The reception and lounge area features a beautifully-crafted, floor-to-ceiling timber walls with cosy seats and retail displays. From here, guests enter a relaxation lounge with a nail bar featuring glorious views out to the stunning Mediterranean Sea and to the elegantly vaulted corridors which lead to the changing rooms. An oval-shaped waiting area is designed in a cocoon-like style, providing a welcoming respite before and between treatments.

A highlight of this Andalusia-inspired architecture is the wet area featuring a hydrotherapy pool; a cold plunge pool; heat and ice experience showers with different types of water flow and mood lighting; herbal steam room; sauna and hammam. Elegant columns and high-arched ceilings evoke a strong yet graceful Moorish character complemented by the use of crema marfil stone and intricately woven screens that filter the sunlight creating playful reflections in the blue-tiled pool.

On the first floor, an outdoor area features an additional three treatment rooms with canopied roofs and swing cabanas overlooking the sea and providing a perfect place for guests to reconnect with the abundant nature and surrounding environment.

The creative diversity and spa design embody Six Senses ability to adapt seamlessly to different cultures creating environments conceived to revitalise and replenish. Guests will chose from a wide selection of Six Senses signature massages, facials and body treatments, wellness therapies and rituals as well as beauty and fitness treatments. Locally-inspired options combine indigenous herbs with sea salt, olive oil and rich minerals to offer authentic Mediterranean experiences.

QMS Medicosmetics and The Organic Pharmacy have been confirmed as product partners, offering a range of result-driven face and body treatments. Six Senses Spas also plans to introduce a series of yogic programs and integrated wellness retreats, delivering highly personalised solutions to guests looking to achieve specific health goals.

Puente Romano Beach Resort is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and lies within the magnificent Golden Mile between Marbella and Puerto Banus, just 35 minutes drive from Málaga Airport. Resembling an Andalusian village, the 264 luxurious Mediterranean-style guest rooms are spread in 27 three–story villas amid lush, sub-tropical gardens, cascading down to the Mediterranean Sea. The resort features spectacular designs by acclaimed interior designer Andrew Martin, seven restaurants, including the two-star Michelin Dani García restaurant, sea front and garden pools, a world-renowned tennis club, 18-hole golf course and an equestrian center.

Developed in conjunction with design professionals, the new ‘Next Generation’ guest experience for the Holiday Inn brand in Europe has been based entirely on guest input.

To meet the needs of the ‘Smart Traveller’, the design reflects the technological demands of the modern guest with changes to how guests check-in, plug in and connect to the cyber and physical world. Smart TVs in rooms enables guests to stream their content from tablets, laptops or mobile phones, and USB charging points feature in the bed side units as well as regular plug sockets. IHG Rewards Club members will be able to check in through the IHG App or online prior to arrival and shown their room location via tablet screens. Wi-Fi will also be included as part of the room cost.

It’s not a disconnection from hospitality though, as guest feedback indicated a strong need for a more personal checking-in experience, breaking down the physical barrier of a desk and opting for individual “pods” instead.

The Guest room
The room features a larger, more comfortable bed dressed with four pillows; two soft and two firm. Drawing inspiration from the airline industry, the new headboards are padded and noise-reducing, upholstered in a light grey fabric which complements the peaceful blue tones chosen for the new room colour scheme. There’s a dark orange zest of colour that lifts the room from being too ‘business class’ and injects a little more fun into the design. The traditional work desk has been replaced with a movable laptop desk which can be used from the comfort of the flexible work/rest area, close to multiple USB ports and charge points.

Mike Greenup, Vice President, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brand Family, Europe, IHG said: “A hotel room is no longer just a place to sleep and our approach to technology and service starts with understanding our guests and their needs across the entire guest journey. This investment in guest insight and innovation is enabling us to stay ahead of the game.”

The Express Café & Bar
This is the integrated food and beverage experience in Holiday Inn Express. There is the option to stay in the café/bar for the Express Start™ breakfast or to have it ‘to go’ by grabbing a take away bag. This better fits guests’ needs for fast and tasty food on the go.

IHG worked with IDEO, a global design and innovation consultancy, and Forpeople, an environments design agency, to develop the ‘next generation’ guest experience.

Chris Grantham, Brand Experience Portfolio Director from IDEO London said: “From the outset we were excited by IHG’s ambition to create a hotel experience that was entirely based on guest insight. We put the Smart Traveller at the centre of the innovation process to learn about their digital, space service and food preferences – ultimately developing a signature ‘smart’ travel experience that is distinctive and valuable to travellers.”

Guest feedback put into action
This new guest experience is a direct reflection of guest feedback. As well as hotel staff, owners and hotel experts, IDEO interviewed a variety of business and leisure travellers who travelled solo, in pairs or in groups, not just within the IHG branded hotels, but in its competitors too. They spent time in guests’ homes observing what they packed for a long and short stay. The team walked guests through a full-sized mock-up of the new guest experience which included acted-out service roles, digital touch screens, and food and beverage offerings. As guests imagined themselves in the hotel – checking in, or eating at the café, for example – IDEO quickly zeroed in on the areas that felt both signature to the brand and of greatest value to the guest. During each walkthrough, guests were invited to give feedback that IDEO incorporated to refine the experience.

“We are aiming for at least one in every four of our European hotels to feature the latest Holiday Inn Express ‘next generation’ guest experience within the next three years, with the first hotel opening towards the end of this year,” said Mike Greenup. Launched in Europe, the ‘next generation’ for Holiday Inn Express will be adapted for forthcoming new builds and those properties earmarked for renovation.

W® Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has debuted in Colombia with the unveiling of W Bogota. The new hotel electrifies Bogota’s hospitality scene by mixing the W brand’s 24/7 attitude, distinct interpretation of modern luxury, and unprecedented insider access to what’s new and next in design, fashion and music in South America’s new capital of cool. Located in the heart of the city, steps from the fashionable Usaquen district, between the city’s mountains and financial center, W Bogota provides guests and locals with a cutting-edge and modern design interpretation of the Legend of El Rey Dorado (the golden king). The myth’s ancient rituals and precious elements are brought to life throughout the hotel’s luxurious and stylish guestrooms, public spaces, and buzzing bars and restaurant. This contemporary design and lifestyle approach has been combined with the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy, inspiring guests to live the legend every time they visit the hotel.

W Bogota’s 168 stylish guestrooms and suites, inspired by the lavish ceremonies of the ancient tribe and the rafts that floated on Lake Guatavita in another era, feature views of the mountain range and the city and are appointed with modern touches and locally-inspired furnishings covered in bright leathers, vinyl, and white sheers. All guestrooms include the signature W Bed, sumptuous Bliss® bath amenities, well-equipped MixBar™ (the W brand’s reinterpretation of the staid mini bar), and a 360° floor to ceiling mirror to get a glimpse of every angle before heading out to wherever the day or night may take you. The Extreme WOW Suite™ (the W take on the Presidential Suite) is equally inspired by the Legend and features the green of the Colombian emeralds and the deep blue of the great lagoon of Guatavita. Ideal for hosting 20 of your closest friends or for intimate moments, the E-WOW Suite boasts multiple lounge spaces, a central bar, oversized bathtub and truly iconic bed.

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Centara Hotels & Resort’s latest venture is a brand-new property now being built in Sriracha, Chonburi. The Centara Sonrisa Residence and Suites Sriracha, currently being developed by Smile Condo (2011) Co. Ltd, will operate as a family-friendly four-star residence. The hotel is now in the design phase and the Centara Group expects that it will open on schedule in the first quarter of 2017. Mr. Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO of Centara Hotels & Resorts, comments that the addition of a new property in this location, close to both Bangkok and booming Pattaya, makes strategic sense. “I am happy to see that we are developing yet another unique facility so that we can continue to build our brand in Thailand.”

The new hotel will contain 150 comfortable, modern rooms, each of approximately 32 square metres. On the premises will also be a full-service restaurant, a fitness centre, a generous swimming pool and outdoor leisure area, children’s facilities, and an ‘E-Room’ business centre along with two meeting rooms suitable for 30 to fifty people. Centara properties are also known for their award-winning spa facilities, and this hotel will be no exception, as it will be home to another of the group’s luxurious and inviting spa destinations.

Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing at Centara Hotels and Resorts, Chris Bailey, says that he is confident that the hotel will be successful, “as we have a clear target market, which fits very well with the facilities and location”.

The overall investment figure, encompassing both land and construction costs, will be approximately 3.5 THB mn/per key.