Hotel Designs

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Wuhan Optics Valley following its rebranding and marks the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Hubei Province of central China.Guestrooms
Hyatt Regency Wuhan Optics Valley houses 330 guestrooms including 23 suites, each designed to morph effortlessly between office and oasis. The entry-level Deluxe Rooms feature clean-lined, soothing interiors – aided by sliding doors, hidden drawers and unobtrusive storage – punctuated with subtle Chinese references, such as a modern version of a traditional horseshoe armchair. Rooms are equipped with a flat-screen LCD television, a DVD player, a stereo soundbar and complimentary Wi-Fi.

Restaurants and Bars
Market Café on the ground floor is the hotel’s casual all-day restaurant, offering buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A Chinese restaurant specializes in contemporary Cantonese and Hubei cuisine with a twist at both lunch and dinner. For more intimate events, there are 10 private dining rooms, including one that seats up to 22 guests.

DAMIAMO, the hotel’s Italian specialty restaurant, is named after Via San Damiano—Milan’s famous street lined with luxury fashion stores.

The Lobby Lounge boasts a 108-foot-(33-meter) long, wood-topped bar, which is the longest bar in Wuhan.

Meetings and Events
Hyatt Regency Wuhan Optics Valley features almost 16,000 square feet (1,480 square meters) of meeting and event spaces. The majority of spaces feature natural daylight, and all are equipped with the very latest technology.

Spanning 7,965 square feet (740 square meters) and featuring a 25-foot- (7.7-meter) ceiling, the Regency Ballroom on the third floor is an impressive venue for high-profile events and grand weddings. Seven additional event spaces, ranging from 484-2,960 square feet (45–275 square meters), are perfect for business meetings and intimate celebrations.

Activities
Those looking for rest and relaxation may opt for the spa, a 29,063-square-foot (2,700-square-meter) facility designed by the award-winning, Singapore-based spa specialists AW Lake Spa Concepts. The spacious sanctuary includes: a Korean-style Akasuri body scrub room; a manicure and pedicure room; a foot massage parlour; sauna and steam rooms; single and double treatment rooms; a hair salon; and a retail shop.

Those eager to keep up with their workout schedule will enjoy the 72-foot (22-meter) lap pool. Alternatively, guests may opt for a more rigorous routine at the fitness centre, fitted with the latest Technogym fitness equipment. Qualified personal trainers are on hand to help guests achieve guests’ exercise goals.

The Ivy recently opened its doors to the public once again. The interiors by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS) retain elements of the previous colour palette, but with contemporary additions. The much-loved features including the wood panelling, harlequin stained glass windows and work by British artists remain and have been incorporated into the new design to establish the restaurant firmly in the 21st century.A particularly noteworthy aspect of the new design, and one that the media has frequently highlighted, is the restaurant’s fantastic central dining bar. The stone topped bar boasts beautiful lamps made by the Dernier & Hamlyn team in its London factory working closely with MBDS.

The brief was to achieve a luxurious appearance and decorative feature combined with subtle lighting. The lamp bases were cast in solid brass using handcrafted wooden moulds and the glass shades were hand cut to accomplish the desired faceted look and their internal facings sandblasted to provide a soft spread of light.

Jeremy Quantrill, Dernier & Hamlyn’s managing director says: “These bar lamps look fantastic in The Ivy. Our team’s attention to detail throughout the project has enabled us to help MBDS create such a beautiful space.”

New for 2015, showering solution expert Simpsons is pleased to introduce the latest design to be launched as part of the Edge enclosure range – the Triple Slider. With its distinctive silver frame and minimalist detailing, Edge offers a contemporary choice for all bathroom styles, from the spacious to the more compact.

Already available in a wide selection of door designs, including pivot, corner entry and bi-fold, the new Triple Slider is ideal for those looking to save space whilst maintaining a streamlined finish.

The innovative 3-panel sliding system creates a smooth open/close motion to enable easy access to the enclosure space, whilst the lateral movement of the doors avoids encroaching on floor space unlike a traditional hinged style.

Available in three width options, the Edge Triple Slider includes 6mm toughened glass as standard, making it ideal for power showers, and a smart reversible design to ensure a seamless fit for any spatial requirements.

Combining superior quality and function with contemporary good looks, the Edge collection is the perfect choice for the modern bathroom. And with the promise of a lifetime guarantee, it’s also the smart choice for long-term durability and everyday use.

Located in the heart of Hamburg is the newly renovated Reichshof Hamburg, the first hotel in the European debut of Curio – A Collection by Hilton. JOI-Design has retained the building’s original Empire and Art Deco aesthetics and coupled it with modern comforts and local cultural references in a stylish interpretation of the Curio brand’s calling card: uniquely storied hotels that provide travellers who have a passion for discovery with a taste of the authentic flavour of communities.

The designers were given a loose brief for the refurbishment of the public areas and guestrooms, guided by overall budget, essential brand standards, and the opportunity to freely translate Curio’s premise into something memorable. Fusing the original art deco interior with the latest technologies have ensured pleasing aesthetics whilst ensuring the hotel is equipped for the future.

The lobby has been reconfigured to remove the mezzanine level, something which was added decades after the hotel’s initial opening, to restore the intended effect of the building’s original design. The arrangement of the lobby has also been carefully considered to facilitate seamless service and enhance guest experience by relocating the reception desk to the back of the area to attract passers-by with a lively central lounge. Seating arrangements can be reconfigured as required and electrical points are available for guest’s use.

The new daytime bar entices passers-by to enter the hotel with its selection of cakes, fresh sushi and sweets – available at all times. Fountains dispersed throughout the hotel and the complimentary “grab-n-go” refrigerator in the lobby also provide guests with a continuous supply of fresh still or sparkling water

Easily identifiable areas radiate off the central lobby, with the reception desks and daytime bar / bistro / café / sushi bar on one side and then Bar 1910, the “vinyl lounge” and slowman restaurant on the other.

The restaurant’s elegant staircase sweeps up to a dining gallery adjacent to the conference rooms; a newly added service lift means that waiters no longer need to cross through the ground level to reach guests in the mezzanine.

The original, beautifully crafted timber joinery and embossed ceilings of Hamburg’s celebrated evening hotspot Bar 1910, formerly called M&M Bar, have also been sensitively renewed.

Reducing the room count from 300 to 278 has created a more spacious feel in the guestrooms whilst creating six junior suites and three one bedroom suites. All have been refreshed with references to the Art Deco era in a taupe coloured palate. Features include a headboard made from asymmetric composition of panels, with padded leather headrests and timber segments inset with backlit sections that emit diffused light. A winding ribbon pattern stretches almost seamlessly across the carpet and onto the wallcovering, bringing a sense of fluidity to the ambience.

The Leeu Collection is a newly-created wine tourism initiative, and will unveil two luxury boutique properties later this year.Leeu House and Leeu Estates are situated in the Western Cape winelands, just under an hour’s drive from Cape Town and its International Airport.

Leeu House
Leeu House, located in the vibrant area of Franschhoek, will open in the last quarter of 2015. The exclusive five-star 12 room boutique hotel offers a stylish interior reflecting a contemporary take on the traditional Cape Dutch heritage and French Huguenot architectural style that is quintessential to Franschhoek. Although small, Leeu House offers The Conservatory, The Terrace, The Lounge, and the serene and secluded gardens with a 15-metre heated outdoor pool.

Leeu Estates
Hot on the heels of the launch of Leeu House is the opening of Leeu Estates. This 20-room five-star boutique hotel is set in 68 hectares of vineyards in the valley of Franschhoek. The heart of the Leeu Estates will be the 19th century Manor House with six suites, as well as The Library, The Living Room, The Dining Room and Garden Terrace public areas. The other 14 guest rooms will be located close by, adjacent to the Amala Spa, and in cottages dotted throughout the gardens. Many rooms will have their own terraces and fireplaces, and all will have stunning panoramic views of the valley.

The Amala Spa, Amala meaning pure in Sanskrit, is a wellness sanctuary offering authentic massage and holistic treatments inspired by centuries-old Asian traditions; it will have a 15-metre heated infinity pool and a TechnoGym-equipped fitness centre. There will also be a Tasting Room, where guests will be able to sample the handcrafted premium wines made on the estate by Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines.

Leeu Collection is the first in South Africa’s history by an Indian investor, namely the entrepreneurial industrialist Analjit Singh. Leeu is the Afrikaans word for lion, as is Singh in Sanskrit.

Ensuring it continues to cater for the demands of modern bathroom design while remaining true to its classical routes, the iconic ILBAGNOALESSI One collection from Laufen has been expanded for 2014. Sporting the same elegantly soft curves and beautiful design that have become synonymous with this legendary range from Italian designer Stefano Giovannoni, the latest additions stay true to form, with timeless pieces designed to integrate seamlessly into the contemporary bathroom.

All the beauty and elegance of the collection’s original ‘Tuna’ countertop washbasin is now available in smaller sizes, of 900mm or 1200mm widths, making them ideal for any bathroom space.

The washbasin’s unique sculptural bowl is combined with an easy-to-wipe clean countertop shelf, while its gentle curves and soft lines combine perfectly with furniture from the same range, in a choice of a beautiful Canaletto walnut or a white lacquered finish and now available in a new 2400mm wide unit to accommodate double washbasins.

Also new to the ILBAGNOALESSI One collection is a luxurious solid surface bathtub, available as either a freestanding or built-in version and with an optional air massage system. Not only does the bath echo the trend for this most versatile of materials in the bathroom, but brings spa-like wellbeing to the domestic setting in the most stylish of ways.

This is joined by a new siphonic WC, crafted from one-piece for a seamless, hygienic finish that offers a powerful flushing performance.

Introducing Laufen’s revolutionary new ceramic, SaphirKeramik, into the collection for the very first time, the new additions also include accessories made from this versatile material, including a shelf towel holder, a toilet paper holder and a hanger.

For more information contact Laufen on 01530 510007 or visit www.uk.laufen.com

750 new jobs have been announced by Travelodge in a major summer recruitment drive. To support the drive, a new website has been launched which outlines all current vacancies as well as information about working at Travelodge. Job recruitment officially started on the 27th July and positions available include: Hotel Manager, Assistant Hotel Manager, Receptionist, Housekeeper, Guest Room Cleaner and Bar Café Assistant roles, as well as roles in the company’s hotel support centre in Thame, Oxfordshire.

480 of those new jobs announced are for employment within its 504 existing hotels. 30 managerial positions are available in selected hotels and 20 vacancies are based at Travelodge’s support office in Thame. The remaining 250 jobs are part of an expansion plan for the group which will see 10 new hotels developed by the end of the year.

Five of those hotels have already opened (Egham, London Wembley High Road, Southampton, Winnersh and Llandudno) and Travelodge has announced plans to open 45 new hotels in the next 24 months as the company builds on the success of its £100m modernisation programme.

Peter Gowers, Travelodge Chief Executive said: “The hotel business is a place where you really can climb the career ladder and where your work can take you all over the world. Over the last few years at Travelodge we’ve helped more than 3,000 people get into work and more than 400 become hotel managers. The opportunities are out there. It’s all about getting that first foot on the ladder.”

One example of this is Debbie Husband, who joined Travelodge in 2004 as an Assistant Hotel Manager and who today is UK Operations Director, looking after operations across 504 hotels and 10,000 employees.

Debbie Husband, Travelodge UK Operations Director said: “If you want to get a job in the hotel industry, do not be afraid to start at the bottom. If you are a team player and demonstrate a flexible approach then you can go all the way to the top at Travelodge. Through that approach I have gone from an assistant hotel manager post to a Director role, and there is nothing stopping others from following that same career path.”

For further information on careers at Travelodge visit the new careers website: www.travelodge.co.uk/careers

Steigenberger Hotels has announced the launch of its inaugural five-star property in the important market of Dubai. The Steigenberger-managed hotel is in the Business Bay district of the city and will open doors to guests in October 2015.This landmark opening will open with further hotels in Dubai and Qatar in the pipeline – the InterCityHotel Culture Village in Dubai and the Steigenberger Hotel Doha Airport Road.

Located a stone’s throw from the iconic Burj Khalifa skyscraper, this new addition to Steigenberger’s impressive portfolio of hotels is both close to Dubai’s historic old town and yet within reach of the fabulous shopping opportunities available at Dubai Mall.

In line with the Steigenberger Hotel Group’s portfolio of luxury properties, the new hotel’s 365 rooms and suites will provide the highest degree of comfort for travellers staying for business or leisure, and the hotel will boast no fewer than five different restaurants to make sure every taste is catered for.

A banqueting and conference area will offer up an exciting new venue to stage events, while the Spa and fitness area, featuring a pool, offers guests the option to relax or workout whilst enjoying panoramic views across the city.

In an agreement reached with Desarrollos Hoteleros Guanacaste S.A. (DHG), Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that the W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal is set to open in 2019.“As we continue to pursue aggressive expansion in Latin America, the agreement to develop W Costa Rica – Reserva Conchal is an exciting addition to our pipeline,” said Jorge Giannattasio, Senior Vice-president and Chief of Latin America Operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

The beachside escape will feature 151 guestrooms and suites; a signature restaurant; the W Living Room and an Away spa and WET deck, an infinity pool with breath-taking views of the tropical surroundings. The hotel will also boast meeting space for special events.

Part of a mixed used development in Reserva Conchal located in the Pacific coast province of Guanacaste, nearby facilities include an award-winning Robert Trent Jones II golf course and a variety of outdoor recreation and nightlife entertainment options. The hotel will be located just 45 minutes from the Liberia / Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport.

Talenti are an Italian design company specialising in high end outdoor furniture for both the retail and contract market and are available to purchase via Encompass Furniture & Accessories. Choice materials and chic design ensure a long lasting great look and supreme comfort.

The Astor collection, above, is designed by Studio Talenti, and uses a Dove painted aluminium frame with cushions made of dry-fast foam and Dacron upholstered with Sky Fabric. Cushion covers are removable, machine washable, water resistant and UV stable. Available as stand-alone pieces, or in modular configurations.

Simple, clean, pure and architectural design characterises Essence Lounge garden furniture collection, designed by Studio Talenti. Constructed and finished in weather resistant materials, the sharp look of Essence lounge will remain clean and crisp for many years in many outdoor spaces.

Talenti Essence Dining is designed to accompany Essence Lounge. Essence Dining furniture shares the same pure, minimalist design –
simplicity in form and function. Proportionally perfect and striking clean lines set this furniture off in a host of spaces. Essence Dining includes tables, benches and chairs in a variety of all-weather exterior finishes.

Sekers have recently launched two new fabric collections: Enchanted and Byblos.Enchanted
Sekers announces the launch of Enchanted, an understated and elegant 100% polyester drapery. With a luxurious dupion silk look and beautiful drape, Enchanted is available in 35 sumptuous shades ranging from rich jewel tones shades to sophisticated neutrals.

Enchanted is ideally suited for curtains, bed throws and accessories in the contract market, from hotels to cruise ships, meeting all relevant UK and IMO standards for curtains and bedding.

Byblos
Sekers proudly launches Byblos, a versatile upholstery with textural simplicity. Available in a palette of 20 colours, from sophisticated neutrals to vibrant colours, Byblos provides a vivid and flexible range of colour.

Incorporating Aquaclean, an advanced nano technology finish that helps protect the fabric against spills and stains without having to resort to specialist cleaning, Byblos resists the toughest of stains, including red wine and permanent marker.

Supplied with crib 5 backing and with a high abrasion performance of 45,000 rubs, Byblos is an ideal upholstery choice for the contract market, from pubs and hotels to cruise ships, meeting all relevant UK and IMO standards for upholstery.

From the original thermal baths of Roman times to Georgian society’s ‘taking the waters’, the city of Bath has long been associated with the restorative powers of its natural springs. Drawing on this rich heritage, the new Gainsborough Bath Spa, situated above the remains of ancient Roman Baths, is the first UK hotel to offer a natural thermal spa.

In 2006 EPR was selected to convert a disused block in the heart of the historic city of Bath into a 99-bedroom five-star luxury spa hotel. As project architect, Claire Truman explains, “The listed nature of the building and its location in the world heritage site offered a distinctive starting point and inspiration for its re-use as a spa hotel – it was an opportunity to create something genuinely unique.”

Developing a site with such a rich history brought its own challenges to the project, not least the fact that excavation work was severely restricted by the remains of Roman Baths beneath. This demanded an innovative design solution for the sub-structure, particularly to the lifts and pool area, the latter of which stands directly above an original Roman mosaic. In homage to this, a replica mosaic was commissioned which now forms a stunning focal point in the hotel spa.

Further inspired by the site’s Roman legacy, the spa is centred around a two-storey glass atrium which encloses the pool to create an internal courtyard filled with natural daylight. The spa facilities include eleven treatment rooms, saunas, a steam room, ice chamber, fitness centre, and – uniquely – a series of natural thermal water pools, each set at a slightly different temperature to enable a genuine Roman bathing experience.

The hotel itself is the product of a complex conversion from five Grade II listed buildings, including renowned nineteenth-century architect John Pinch’s United Hospital building, until recently the home of Bath’s Technical College. Unifying the different buildings, each with their own levels, and converting them within the planning height constraints demanded a creative solution in order to deliver the desired number of bedrooms and associated facilities. As well as the conversion, EPR also designed a portion of new build which served both to link the buildings together – including an underground link to the 14-bedroom hotel annexe – and to rejuvenate the perimeter. The external design was further enhanced through new stepped terraces to Bilbury Lane, publically accessible roofs and a sympathetic external lighting scheme whereby the feature lighting is limited to the hotel’s key architectural elements.

Internally, and working in collaboration with New York interior designers Champalimaud Design, EPR conceived a series of varied and sophisticated spaces, both for the public areas and the bespoke guestrooms. Alongside the spa, the development comprises 99 custom-finished guestrooms and suites (three of which are the only guest rooms in the UK to offer guests in-bathroom access to the thermal waters), restaurant, private dining room, lounge and banqueting facilities.

Open on 1 July 2015, this much awaited luxury hotel and spa is set to become a leisure destination of choice.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced an agreement with GH Pegasus to open Aloft Tijuana, Aloft Coatzacoalcos and Aloft Poza Rica by the end of 2017, and an agreement with Hoteles Real Chihuahua to unveil the Sheraton Chihuahua Soberano Hotel, a strategic conversion, by November 2015.Aloft Continues Accelerated Growth Path, Strengthens Footprint in Mexico
Aloft Tijuana, Aloft Coatzacoalcos and Aloft Poza Rica will be operated by Grupo Presidente under franchise agreements. Aloft Tijuana will redefine the conventional hotel scene for today’s traveller with its innovative offerings and socially-savvy style. Tijuana, located in the state of Baja California on the border of the United States, is one of the most important industrial and business hubs in Mexico and home to major multinational corporations. The hotel will feature 150 loft-like guestrooms fully equipped with the brand’s signature amenities. Guests will be able to mix and mingle over lively music at W XYZ Bar, exercise at RE:CHARGE and relax in the refreshing outdoor Splash pool.

The newly built Aloft Coatzacoalcos will feature 133 loft-like guestrooms. Poza Rica, also located in the state, is an oil and gas hub with offices for some of the most important multinational firms. Aloft Poza Rica is a conversion of an existing hotel and will have 127 rooms. Both will provide guests access to a vibrant social scene at W XYZ Bar, RE:CHARGE, a fully equipped fitness center and an outdoor Splash pool.

Sheraton Chihuahua Soberano Hotel will debut this November
With the opening of Sheraton Chihuahua Soberano Hotel, Starwood will increase its Sheraton footprint to six hotels in the country, and to 37 in the region.

The conversion, managed by Hoteles Real de Chihuahua, will be completely renovated prior to its debut in November 2015. The property will feature 194 guestrooms and 10 suites, two signature restaurants and all of the Sheraton brand’s signature offerings, including a Sheraton Club lounge, the state-of-the-art technology of Link@SheratonSM, and Sheraton Fitness. With more than 14,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, it will boast the largest meeting space in the market, catering to major corporate, government and social events.

Luxurious boutique property Gewandhaus Dresden, has joined the Autograph Collection. It is the second Autograph Hotel in Germany alongside Hotel am Steinplatz, Berlin.

Reopened in April 2015 following an extensive refurbishment, Gewandhaus Dresden has been transformed under the direction of well-known Düsseldorf architectural firm, STUDIO architects.

Located in the heart of the baroque city centre of Dresden, the hotel building is steeped in history, dating back to 1768, and formally an important centre for cloth making. The comprehensive restoration process has brought the 97-room property to a luxurious modern finish that also reflects the origins of the baroque edifice.

The hotel’s contemporary designer furniture utilises select materials that play on the notion of modern versus historical, such as the burnished brass lamps and antique leather sofas.

Gewandhaus Dresden offers guests an array of facilities including an indoor swimming pool complete with sauna, steam bath and fitness room, along with the spacious atrium and inner courtyard which acts as the centrepiece of the hotel – leading through to a reception hall, The Meatery Bar & Restaurant and cosy lobby bar. Gewandhaus Dresden provides excellent meeting facilities, and sports activities such as hiking and chess are also offered on-site.

The Meatery Bar & Restaurant

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Hyatt Place Dubai/Baniyas Square is officially open, marking the second Hyatt Place hotel in the Middle East, joining Hyatt Place Dubai/Al Rigga, and the sixth Hyatt-branded hotel in Dubai.Hyatt Place Dubai/Baniyas Square offers 126 spacious guestrooms, each featuring the plush Hyatt Grand Bed and a Cozy Corner with sectional sofa-sleeper and a separate living space and work space.

Guests may also take advantage of free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel with free use of public computers and internet access in the Gallery.

The hotel offers an á la carte menu for lunch and dinner with international cuisine, including Indian, Arabic and Italian dishes. The Gallery Breakfast helps guests start the day the right way with a daily, free hot breakfast.

24/7 Gallery Market serves freshly prepared salads and sandwiches, as well as tea and speciality coffees.

Other hotel amenities include a 24-hour gym and outdoor swimming pool.

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts announces the forthcoming opening of JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa in autumn 2015. The 299-room luxury beach front resort, designed by architect Jim Olson in collaboration with Mexico City-based design firm IDEA Asociados, is dedicated to cherishing and showcasing Los Cabos’ natural environment and traditions.
Lobby

Upon entering the open-air lobby, guests will be immediately greeted by the sea and the resort’s expansive infinity pools, creating the effect of the ocean merging with the property itself. The resort will boast well-appointed guest rooms and suites – all with unobstructed ocean views – in addition to seven restaurants, a world-class spa & fitness centre, beach club, banquet and meeting facilities, and retail shops. The resort’s architectural design will also provide idyllic spaces to display international works of contemporary art from renowned international artists.

Guest room

JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa will offer seven restaurants and bars, including its signature Café des Artistes, a Mexican fine dining experience with French influences helmed by award-winning Chef Thierry Blouet. The restaurant will have both indoor and outdoor seating, a carefully curated wine cellar selection highlighting the best of Baja California vintages, a chef’s private table and a bar area. Other food & beverage establishments include Nak & Grill Bar, offering open-grilled local seafood dishes, as well as P’yote Rooftop Bar, which will feature an extensive list of cocktails to be enjoyed on the hotel’s upper terrace.

Guest room

The Jasha Spa will span more than 21,000 sq. ft. and include 12 treatment rooms, an outdoor garden and patio, vitality pools, an indoor pool, and private Jacuzzis. The property will also house a modern version of the traditional temazcal, a Mexican sweat lodge used by ancient Aztecs as a therapeutic instrument to promote healing, health and well-being. Guests will also have access to Puerto Los Cabos’ private marina and golf courses designed by Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus.

Additionally, JW Marriott Los Cabos Beach Resort & Spa will offer more than 37,000 sq. ft. of space for corporate and social events. Facilities will include a 7,950 sq. ft. Mila Ballroom, with six smaller rooms adjacent to the foyer and an oceanfront Amet Patio. The Kepe gazebo, with a magnificent view of the Sea of Cortez, will be the ideal venue for wedding ceremonies.
Inspired by ancient Greek forums, the 7,104 sq. ft. Sum-San amphitheater will provide space for guests to enjoy performing art events or special celebrations under the stars. Stadium seating will surround the amphitheater stage, set among lush gardens and a naturally occurring chiaroscuro, providing guests with a culturally rich experience. The resort will also boast several private and semi-private terraces and gardens.

Griffin Club

For those looking for a highly personalized and private experience, the property will feature the Griffin Club, an ultra luxurious 45-room boutique hotel within the resort. Griffin Club guests will enjoy exclusive amenities such as a movie theater, private beach and pool, reserved Jasha Spa areas, the Mayma Lounge Bar with a fireplace, and a private business center with meeting rooms and an event space.

Pool

The Mount Hotel, Wolverhampton’s premier independent hotel, is celebrating the completion of major refurbishment works, which have not only restored the Victorian manor house to its former alluring glory, but has also resulted in the hotel receiving a number of critically acclaimed awards.

Since 2011, the Grade II-listed Mount Hotel has seen an extensive transition and refurbishment programme, with the hotel now boasting an award winning AA Rosette restaurant, champagne bar and stylishly modernised guest rooms.

Owner Scott Bernard commented “The refurbishment has taken 3 years due to not interrupting weddings and functions at the hotel and we have used only the finest designs and top quality trades in order to ensure our product far exceeds the standards set by the modern traveller.”

There are 65 bedrooms with a choice of standard, executive and deluxe options, alongside exuberant suites and fully serviced apartment. Guest rooms are found within the period building, stunning courtyard conversions and accommodation wing on the grounds.

Having proudly hosted royalty, aristocracy and other high profile individuals, the jewel in the crown of the new hotel is its champagne bar and award-winning dining, having been a finalist in England and Wales’ Great Food Awards. The Hotel is set in 4 acres of manicured gardens and also offers the facility of outdoor weddings.

GROHE are delighted to announce that the new Tempesta 100 Electric shower has been Good Housekeeping Institute approved, making it the first shower to gain the prestigious Good Housekeeping Institute Approved Accreditation.

Being approved by the Good Housekeeping Institute provides great acclamation as rigorous testing is carried out and only those products that pass the consumer Quality Assessment test can then have access to the endorsement. The shower was measured on performance, ease of use and design. Good Housekeeping stated, “The new GROHE Tempesta 100 electric shower’s controls are intuitive, very easy to use and responsive and the three spray patterns are distinctive and flow is powerful and invigorating”.

The new Tempesta 100 Electric Shower uses GROHE DreamSpray® technology which has been optimised for low water pressure installation. This ensures a luxuriously revitalising shower experience with the choice of three spray patterns to suit the user‘s mood. The design includes a range of colours and the chrome surfaces are covered with GROHE StarLight ® longlife which keeps them looking as good as new.

GROHE’s Tempesta 100 has multiple key features, which include a safety feature, SafeStop, which helps prevent scalding by switching off the heater should the water temperature become too hot. As well as this safety feature the electric shower also has EasyLogic controls, which are two dials for ease of use to control power and temperature. The independent start stop button allows your settings to remain the same, ensuring you have the perfect shower every time.

Raj Mistry, Marketing Director of GROHE UK, says “GROHE are extremely proud that its Tempesta 100 electric showers are the first in the industry to be endorsed by the Good Housekeeping Institute. The coveted mark of approval demonstrates how GROHE has redefined the electric shower market through this product, which is optimised for low flow requirements, whilst delivering a powerful and invigorating showering experience”.

The range includes two power options and a choice of three colours.

•Colour and power options: White/Nighttime Grey available in 8.5 and 9.5kw; White/Sandstone available in 9.5 kw; White/Frosted Granite available in 9.5kw.

For stockist information please visit www.grohe.com/uk

The continued, sustained growth in the number of Chinese international travellers presents huge opportunities for the global tourism industry and hoteliers, reveals the Hotels.com Chinese International Travel Monitor 2015. According to Hotels.com’s latest major annual study, tech-savvy, younger and more affluent Chinese form a substantial part of the 20 percent growth in outbound mainland Chinese travellers, reaching 107 million in 20141. The report also highlights the need for hoteliers to cater to Chinese travellers’ needs such as Chinese-speaking staff, Chinese-language tourist guides and dedicated websites. Credible insights from travellers, hoteliers and proprietary data
The fourth edition of the Hotels.com™ Chinese International Travel Monitor (CITM) provides detailed insights into how outbound travel movements by mainland Chinese are impacting the global travel industry. It combines data from more than 3,000 Chinese international travellers and 1,500 Hotels.com accommodation partners globally with Hotels.com’s own data and other third-party research.

Increasing influence of ‘millennials’
The Hotels.com CITM identifies the growing influence of Gen Y travellers – the so-called tech-savvy ‘millennials’ aged 18 to 35. Fifty-nine percent of hoteliers surveyed say they’ve experienced an increase in Chinese guestsaged 35 or under in the past year and they expect this trend to continue to grow. The growth is especially strong in the Asia Pacific region, where 78 percent of hoteliers reported an increase.

The rise of the Chinese luxury traveller
Another feature of this year’s results is the growing financial muscle of the top 10 percent of travellers in terms of overseas travel spend. On 13,800 RMB (£1,467) per day including accommodation, they parted with four times more money than that of the average traveller, who spent 3,324 RMB (£353). However, this pales into insignificance in comparison with the top five percent of spenders, who shelled out over six times more than the average 20,896 (£2,221), indicating the emergence of a ‘super-luxury’ class.

Tech-savvy with a preference for booking online
Using the internet to research and book overseas trips has become the norm for Chinese travellers, while the use of mobile phones for planning and booking their travel has skyrocketed. In the past 12 months, 80 percent of Chinese travellers have used an online device including mobiles, desktops and laptops to plan and book travel, compared with only 53 percent in 2013. Half of all Chinese international travellers now use apps on their smart phones to plan and book trips, up from just 17 percent the year prior.

Hotels.com responds to the rise of Chinese international travellers
Recognising the growing importance of the Chinese travel market, Hotels.com launched a Chinese-language website in 2009. A range of bespoke Hotels.com apps for smart phones and tablets is also available in simplified Chinese, while popular Chinese third-party online payment solution Alipay have been introduced as a payment option for Chinese customers.

Royal Warrant holders Hypnos and Mitre Linen kicked off a programme of national roadshows with a launch event at Manchester’s Hotel Football.
The Hypnos Stand

The prestigious hotel, which has recently opened, is located opposite the Old Trafford stadium and is owned by former footballers Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.

As well as a chance to win exclusive show prizes, all guests were given the opportunity to meet a Quality Assessor from Visit England, on hand to answer questions. The event was also a chance to discover the secrets of a good night’s sleep and see the latest trends in the hospitality industry including beds, bedding and designer wall art.

Mitre Linen MD Stephen Broadhurst said, “This is the first in a series of national trade roadshows we have planned together with our partner Hypnos.

“It is a delight to meet with our customers and to have the opportunity to showcase our products in situ to hoteliers who can’t easily come to visit our showroom in Wales. We know their time is precious and this type of events allows us to make things as easy as possible for them. The roadshows we are organising with Hypnos are a unique opportunity to meet with suppliers and industry bodies to discuss the latest hotel trends and advice.”

Hypnos Sales Director David Lawrenson said, “It was great to team up with fellow Royal Warrant holders, Mitre Linen, to take a roadshow out to our customers and prospective customers in the North West. We’re looking forward to doing the same in other areas of the country over the coming months.”
The Mitre team on their stand

Sandra Dixon, Executive Head Housekeeper at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, who attended the event, said, “I think it’s a great idea for companies like Mitre Linen and Hypnos to come to us. Seeing and testing their products in the comfort of a hotel room was a real opportunity; our industry is based on customer relationships and it is always a pleasure to meet with hotel suppliers who go the extra mile to help us give our guests the best hotel experience.”

More roadshows are planned for Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol and Cornwall. To find out more, please call Hypnos on 01159 732 180.

The Peninsula London, a joint venture between Grosvenor Britain & Ireland and The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, is a proposed 190-room hotel with a desirable London address.

Plans have been submitted to Westminster City Council to replace the existing 1960s office block, which currently sits on the prime location of Hyde Corner, with a mixed-use development encompassing a spa; shops; bars; restaurants; ballroom; 24-28 residential apartments with a separate leisure and spa facility, reception and entrance on Halkin Street.

Designed by British-based Hopkins Architects, the redevelopment of 1 – 5 Grosvenor Place aims to create a landmark building for Belgravia.

Plans also include the improved public areas in Grosvenor Place, Halkin Street and Grosvenor Crescent, with wider footpaths, easier road crossings and additional trees planted along Halkin Street and Grosvenor Crescent. These proposals are designed by BDP who have worked with Grosvenor since 2007.
Construction is due to commence in summer 2017.

The Maison 2 seater sofa from Gallery Direct’s Hudson Living range is a stylish sofa complete with two scatter cushions. To complement with the sofa, Gallery also offer the Maison armchair. Both have a weathered finish frame and are available in either soft grey linen cotton or natural linen cotton upholstery.The Maison sofa and armchair coordinate beautifully with other products from the Hudson Living Maison range, which includes occasional tables, sideboards and dining tables and chairs.

For more information, please contact Gallery Direct via their website: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino have announced the final phase of its resort-wide transformation with the upcoming redesign of more than 3,000 guest rooms and suites.Created by the MGM Resorts International Design Group, each of the designs for the new rooms and suites will feature vibrant colours and bold statement pieces, exuding a confident and inviting atmosphere.

Featuring bright, natural designs and colour palettes with modern furnishings, the new rooms will offer comfortable spaces ideal for guests in search of a retreat during their stay. Splashes of texture and colour have been carefully integrated into lush fabrics and warm curtain patterns to create a bright and airy atmosphere.

Resort Collection
The Resort King will feature a refreshing cobalt and white colour scheme where the softness of the curtains will accentuate the curves of the carpet. The Resort Queen rooms will welcome guests with either a warm ruby and latte combination or rich lavender and mocha. Creating a bold centerpiece for the room, each bed is framed by a vibrant mural onyx-inspired wall. All rooms will feature a fully stocked minibar, Keurig coffee machine and a flat-screen HD TV, openly displayed and visible throughout the room.

For guests looking to stay connected, the new Resort Collection rooms will feature a thoughtfully designed work area with a spacious glass desk, modern seating and task lighting. Functional details include an electrical outlet on each lamp for easy bedside and tableside recharging. The experience is highlighted by sweeping views of the mountains, the city skyline or Mandalay Bay’s famed 11-acre pool and beach oasis.

Suite Collection
For guests seeking additional space, the Suite Collection offers one- and two-bedroom suites ideal for entertaining friends or meeting with co-workers. Featuring rich jewel tone fabrics accented by natural wood and stone, each suite will feature multiple seating and dining areas. The media and living area will include a large table for guests to gather and socialize, whether for business or pleasure.

Luxury Collection
Guests seeking the ultimate indulgence can select from the many glamorous one- to four-bedroom suites in the Luxury Collection. Featuring newly designed décor complemented by well-appointed amenities such as floor-to-ceiling windows and dining and bar areas, these suites will ensure that each guests’ stay feels like a well-deserved escape.

The approximately $100 million remodel includes more than 3,000 guest rooms and suites. The project is expected to be completed by spring 2016.

AB Hotels, a family-owned chain of luxury hotels, recently commissioned Fine Cell Work as part of the refurbishment of suites and bedrooms at Sopwell House, a country house near St. Albans in Hertfordshire and former home of Lord Mountbatten.

Fine Cell Work, a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework worked to a four-month deadline to complete the interior cusions, while The Modern Garden Company supplied exterior furniture along with bespoke exterior cushions.

Two prison workshops in HMP Gartree and HMP Littlehey were entrusted with the task and had to learn to work with velvet and leather, new materials that required special industrial sewing machines.

The cushions required both piping and a zip along the bottom; which was a new specification for the workshop and new sewing techniques for the men to add to their skill base.

The Modern Garden Company’s bespoke upholstery and exterior cushion work required a considerable amount of time and research to produce aesthetically-pleasing designs that also conformed to UK fire regulations all whilst being water and weather resistant.

Helen Smith, production manager for Fine Cell Work said: “It’s always enormously rewarding for the prison stitching teams to receive the feedback that we pass on to them. They have also seen images of the cushions in situ at Sopwell House, real recognition of the beautiful work that they create out of ugly circumstances. I can’t thank them enough for what they did to make this job happen.”

Fine Cell Work has been selected as a charity partner for this year’s Decorex – the leading trade show for the luxury interior design industry – and will be showcasing its latest designs as well as taking part in the lecture series.

Quite often in the world of hotel architecture and design, the phrase ‘a blend of history and modernity’ is a marketing soundbite, and an overused one at that.But not so in the case of The Temple House in Chengdu, which opened at the weekend to mark Swire’s third property in its House Collective brand. It follows the opening of The Opposite House in Beijing and The Upper House in Hong Kong.

Located in the heart of the city, within the Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li Chengdu, the hotel was jointly developed by Sino-Ocean Land and Swire Properties.

Designed by internationally-renowned architects Make Architects, the 100-room hotel and its 42 adjoining serviced apartments form an integral part of the city government’s conservation project to preserve the surrounding heritage buildings next to the thousand-year-old Daci Temple.

The three-dimensional woven façade combines modern design with the traditional Chengdu architectural elements of timber, brick and step stones. Elegant bamboo trees frame the hotel’s entrance, which is set in a beautifully restored hundred-year-old Chinese courtyard building first built in the Qing Dynasty. Although Chinese Emperors have previously stayed at the Daci Temple, The Temple House evokes the modest houses provided for scholars who came from different parts of the world to study at the Temple.

The Temple House offers a dynamic collection of outlets including The Temple Café – the all-day dining restaurant, Tivano – an authentic Italian restaurant and Jing Bar featuring live DJs. Stylishly designed by AvroKo, all of the outlets are not just for guests; they are destination neighbourhood venues in their own right.

Nestled in the renovated Chinese courtyard which was built nearly one hundred years ago, SPA Mi Xun is an urban oasis to unwind and relax. The gift shop and tea house at Mi Xun are designed to give guests the Mi Xun experience to take home and a post treatment space to enjoy a healthy lunch, tea or fresh juice.

Brian Williams, Managing Director of Swire Hotels, comments: “Our goal is to create a highly individualised hotel which houses a series of dynamic restaurants and uniquely designed facilities. The Temple House presents an ideal opportunity to extend our brand into one of China’s wealthiest and fastest-growing regions.”

Mark Passmore, General Manager of The Temple House, adds: “The Temple House is a modern hotel that celebrates its historic location. We aim to provide discerning travellers with residential-style accommodation, where they can enjoy an authentic Chengdu experience.”

The luxury Hotel Can Mostatxins (Hotel Moustache) has opened its doors in June after a four-year restoration. Located in the historic walled town of Alcúdia just 30 metres from the main square. In-keeping with its original gothic style, the hotel has been transformed into the perfect location for a relaxing, indulgent and glamorous experience.Hotel Moustache features nine completely unique luxury rooms all named after local Cala’s (coves) representing a place of peace. It is the only boutique within the walls of Alcúdia to feature a magnificent spa pool, creating the perfect fusion between its original traditional styling and modern state- of -the- art furnishings.

Guestrooms feature luxurious en-suite bathrooms, free WiFi, a satellite flatscreen TV, fridge, phone, safe, tea & coffee making facilities, air conditioned rooms and blackout window blinds providing ultimate privacy. Other amenities include a Bose ‘blue tooth’ speaker and a guest iPad for public area use, as well as a range of books and games in the hotel library.

The hotel spa boasts its own fully trained in-house physiotherapist, with a separate treatment area on the same level as the pool. Treatments include a back and neck massage, sports massage (foot and leg), chocolate therapy and hot stone and full body massage.

The hotel also features a stunning Tower Suite, laid out over two floors with a living room containing a sofa bed for one and a luxurious bathroom on the ground floor, and a wooden, open staircase in keeping with the exposed stone work and oak flooring, leading to a bedroom on the upper floor. Guests can delight in overlooking the hotel’s spa pool and the vast views stretching to the mountains in the distance and the Bay of Pollença on ‘kissing seats’, a feature of the room’s private terrace which is also present in the Tower bedroom.

General hotel amenities include a continental breakfast, available every morning with flexible dining times, and Honesty bar, where guests can help themselves to a range of champagne, cava, fine wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks 24/7. Although the hotel does not have its own restaurant, it offers a restaurant booking service, with recommendations of the best tried and tested restaurants in Mallorca. Travel services are also available through the hotel, with beach recommendations and opportunities to book bikes, taxis and helicopters.

Hotel Can Mostatxins has been developed by the Worthington family who have been living and working in the region around Alcúdia and Pollenca for over 30 years.

Hotel Moustache has strived to keep the original and unique historical features of the building which include a wine vat, the 15th century tower and a large courtyard cut out of the sandstone sitting 20 metres below ground.

Hand made by British craftsmen at their workshop in Cheshire, the ‘Rewind Collection’ is the latest addition to the Style Matters’ portfolio. Using recycled wooden boards, they can create bespoke designs to match your specifications. Available in waxed or rag-wash finish options, the possibilities are endless! Suitable for indoor or outdoor use, these unique pieces of furniture are extremely versatile.

View a variety of options including dining tables, bench seating and shelving units, at the Style Matters show room today.

Please call 0844 880 6620.

Sleep, Europe’s leading event for the global hotel design, development and architectural community, has announced a new competition aimed at spatial design students who are invited to create original concept images expressing ‘Wonder Tale’ and submit this via Pinterest. Entries will be judged by influential hospitality design professionals with the winning entries exhibited at Sleep on 24 and 25 November.

‘Wonder Tale’ challenges design students to unleash their imaginations and create original concept images for a hotel guestroom that draws on the essence of fairy tales and folklore from around the world, weaving their own story which, just like a fairy tale, touches on the human condition while playing with perceptions and disrupting the norm to engage and nurture the guest in new ways. The full brief and submission details can be found on the Sleep website. The competition’s theme ties in with this year’s Sleep Set and Sleep Bar (in Association with Sleeper), two hugely inspirational and popular features which are created afresh each year at Sleep, challenging design companies to create built spaces that push boundaries and explore new ideas.

Once complete, contestants need to tweet @sleepevent a link to their images – entitled ‘Sleep Wonder Tale’ – including the hashtag #WonderTale. Images must also be available as a 300dpi tif or jpg file suitable for printing at A1 size (w841 x h594mm).

The closing date of the competition is 5th October 2015 and entries will be judged prior to the Sleep event by the Sleep Set design professionals including:

Andrew Linwood, Areen Design
Anita Rosato, Anita Rosato Interior Design
Mat Dalby, THE STUDIO, Harrods
Oliver Heath, Oliver Heath Studio
Shaun Clarkson, Shaun Clarkson ID

Shortlisted entrants will be invited to attend Sleep 2015 at London’s Business Design Centre on 25 November, where they will have an opportunity to meet with the Sleep Set designers in a one-to-one mentoring session as well as enjoy exclusive VIP access to the conference and exhibition.

“Sleep aims to inspire and engage with the next generation of architects and designers who will go on to create exceptional hotel spaces across the globe” says Kali Nicholson, Sleep Brand Director. “The ‘Wonder Tales’ competition is about the preliminary stage of a spatial design project, where a concept image is tremendously important in communicating the designer’s intent to clients and stakeholders,”.

The historic Chinese city of Haining has welcomed its first international five-star hotel with the recent opening of Langham Place, Haining.The opening marks the seventh Langham Hospitality Group property in mainland China – following successful openings in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzen, Guangzhou, Ningbo and Xiamen – and its 20th globally.

Langham Place, Haining is part of an integrated complex comprising of a shopping centre, commercial offices as well as high-end serviced apartments and is a 90-minute drive from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and railway station.

The interior design represents the contemporary elegance for which the Langham brand is renowned, but also makes strong references to Chinese culture to perfectly present the dual aesthetic concept.

The hotel’s distinctive façade is inspired by traditional Chinese windows and lattice screens, complemented by a custom-designed light line and metal skirt, making it a distinctive landmark in the city.

Langham Place, Haining offers 263 stylish guestrooms and suites across eight different room types, including the 82 square metre Langham Suite on the top floor with expansive views of the surrounding cityscape; and a 104 square metre Residence with spectacular floor-to-ceiling views of Haining.

All rooms and suites feature Langham signature Blissful Beds, Chuan Spa bath amenities to ensure a relaxing stay. For the comfort of female travellers, Langham Place, Haining is the first hotel in the city to reserve an entire floor exclusively for female guests. Guestrooms on the ‘Ladies Floor’ feature soft pink and champagne tones, luxurious bedding and thoughtful hair and skin-care amenities.

The historic city of Haining boasts a rich history and culture, as well as picturesque landscapes. It combines this heritage with a modern, prosperous economy and inspiring development plans. Haining is also a prime viewing location for the Qiantang River tidal bore and is renowned as China’s “Leather Town,” which draws travellers from across China and around the world.

Bouygues UK has landed two contracts with Nicolas James Group for the delivery of a new hotel-led mixed use development in a prime regeneration area of Southampton.

The Southampton Harbour Hotel & Spa will include an 85-bedroom spa hotel and 12 apartments; built on a headland that was used to moor the region’s exclusive yachts and the cross-channel ferries coming into the marina at Ocean Village.

This will be Bouygues UK’s first hotel in the region, and the fourth hotel contract it has announced in the space of six months – making it a double-brace of recent hotel wins for the firm.

The new development and an accompanying 82-home residential block are based in the same area of the city where Bouygues UK also delivered the landmark residential development Admirals Quay, providing around 300 new homes for the area.

Sitting in front of a white sheet of paper waiting for the inspiration to design a light fitting might sound as scary as the author sitting there with his ‘writer’s block’. But given the unique role of lighting in hospitality interiors, given the enduring wish that lighting should add wow factor, given the ever faster rate of change in lighting technology and given the huge global market in which we operate, it’s often the case that designs just come tumbling out.

Interior designers are being challenged more than ever before to create increasingly unique and memorable interior spaces for which lighting plays a fundamental part. This thirst for individuality is something which is equally important for us when it comes to refining our new collections. We are constantly looking to evolve new concept directions and as such, we do start with that clean white sheet of paper, albeit the paper may be framed by the restrictions of budget, function and dimension. That is the design challenge and that is the fun!

In the commercial world, just as the interior designer must rein in his or her purely personal aesthetic preferences in favour of the client’s overall design brief, so we must blend product style with total suitability for contract use, the latest energy saving technology, value engineering to hit the project’s budget and above all the features which a discerning guest notices, likes and wants to come back to. For us, the guest experience is always the focus point at the end of the product design process. We have no way of knowing whether the guest will like blue or green, big or small, contemporary or traditional, but we do know they want lighting which blends ambience with ease of use to suit the increasingly multi-functional nature of the guestroom.

Just like all the other products which go to make up a successful hotel interior, lighting products come with their own set of design considerations. Where is the lighting going? What has it got to do? How much (or how little) does it need to say? How important is light output? How can it be unique and on trend? Can it be built with the quality levels required? What is the budget? The list goes on so it is vitally important that as product designers we thoroughly understand the lighting needs of our complex market and are flexible enough to adapt our ideas accordingly.

Whereas technological advancements are undoubtedly one of the significant forces that create an imperative for new products, it’s important to get the blend right between embracing that new technology without at the same time allowing it to dominate the whole aesthetic design process. The LED revolution has forced us to completely rethink lighting design and LEDs satisfy the sustainability impetus and the increasing client pressure to provide efficient lighting solutions. However, simply using LED for LED’s sake has led several product designers to fall into the trap of incorporating the new light source too early before developments have brought it to the stage where it becomes inconspicuous, gives good light output with the right colour temperature and ultimately becomes a cost-effective solution. Today we can offer an LED light source option for almost every product we manufacture.

Perhaps the final piece of the jigsaw in successful lighting design for hotel interiors is knowing when to say ‘No’! We have always considered ourselves part of the whole team (interior designer, procurement, contractor, operator) which completes a successful lighting scheme in the hospitality market. Our part of that teamwork has to encompass being the expert in the product itself and to that end, if we are presented with a design concept which we think will simply not work for technical or functional reasons, we will always say ‘No’ to the idea. ‘No’ will be followed by our proposals with a solution or our suggestions as to how a better product should be created perhaps involving the latest lamp technology, switching options, dimming controls or simply increased stability and functionality.

Whereas lighting sometimes needs to be inconspicuous and barely noticed by a hotel guest, great lighting products can sometimes be the focal point for an entire interior design scheme. Designing those great products is all about the bigger picture and about pulling together all those different threads which have equal importance and which help create a lighting product with wow, function, style and cost and above all will appeal to the hotel guest for many years to come.

Able Services, a leading supplier of FF&E solutions for four and five star hotels and manufacturer of bespoke artwork, picture frames and mirrors, was commissioned for a project with Royal Lancaster in London.

The hotel is in the process of refurbishing 416 of its guest rooms and suites. The 4* hotel, which was awarded the best conference venue at the Conference Awards 2015, also recently completed refurbishment in the lounge bar area – carried out by Able Services, who provided the framed artwork which showcases local heritage throughout the area, mirrors and signage.

Originally established in 2006 as a supplier of artwork and mirrors, Able extensively restructured its brand and offering in 2011 with a stronger team and a wider range of high end products suited to the modern hotel needs.

Starwood Hotels announced last week its ongoing Luxury Collection® portfolio expansion in Europe with the addition of four new properties – Augustine in Prague, Caresse Resort & Spa in Bodrum, Falisia Resort & Spa in Portopiccolo and the Grand Hotel River Park in Bratislava.The announcement follows news of Starwood’s $300 million (£192 million) expansion in North America, which will take the number of Luxury Collection® properties past 100 hotels globally by the end of the year. This effort is made in tandem with the ongoing investment of more than $500 million (£320 million) by Starwood and hotel owners to restore some of the most iconic Luxury Collection® hotels in Europe.

Augustine, Prague (Opened June 30)
Set against a varied architecture of Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic styles, the hotel’s elegant interiors reflect the building’s monastic history, complete with furnishings inspired by the 1930s Czech cubism movement. The hotel also features an intimate ballroom, four meeting rooms, fitness centre and spa.

Caresse, Bodrum (Opened July 1)
Marking the entry of Starwood and The Luxury Collection brand into Bodrum, Turkey’s most prestigious resort destination, Caresse Resort & Spa features 84 contemporary rooms, suites and residences with panoramic views of the tranquil bay. Caresse offers five culinary venues including all-day dining restaurant: Glass and Glass Lounge, La Plage beach restaurant and a sushi bar.

Falisia, Portopiccolo (Opened July 18)
Falisia Resort & Spa is located in the exclusive Portopiccolo Sistiana beachfront development in northeastern Italy on the Adriatic coast. The idyllic resort will feature 65 elegant rooms and suites, a private beach with an infinity pool, two restaurants serving gourmet and healthy cuisine, a lounge bar, a dedicated spa and three meeting rooms.

Grand Hotel River Park, Bratislava (Opening August 1)
Designed by the award-winning Dutch architect Erick van Egeraat, the prestigious hotel is owned by Best Hotel Properties, which will also take over management of the hotel when it joins The Luxury Collection® in August. Grand Hotel River Park features 231 rooms and suites, two restaurants and a lobby bar, an indoor pool, as well as a fitness centre and spa, two ballrooms and five meeting rooms.

Scandic Hotels is taking over one of Norway’s most prominent hotels – Hotel Norge in Bergen. The hotel, which was built in 1885, is Bergen’s oldest hotel and will from the beginning of the fall of 2016, be completely transformed to claim its place as the top hotel in the city.

Scandic will take over the hotel on September 1, 2016 and subsequently begin the renovation, which will be carried out in close cooperation with the property owner and take into account the hotel’s history and uniqueness. The hotel will remain open during the renovation, which is scheduled for completion by autumn 2017.

The renovated hotel area is projected to be 20,000 m2 with 390 rooms and extensive dining and meeting facilities. The hotel will in conjunction with the renovation also be extended with more rooms and then become Bergen’s largest hotel.

“The classic Bergen hotel will have a unique and prominent position in our hotel portfolio. By significantly upgrading and transforming the hotel and couple it with our popular and strong customer offering, our vision is to firmly re-establish Hotel Norge as the flagship hotel it once was”, says Frank Fiskers, President & CEO of Scandic Hotels.

“The market in Western Norway is currently tough and the pressure to retain Hotel Norge’s position in the top tier is great. This is why we have chosen Scandic as our long-term partner, in part because of the company’s willingness to invest but also because of the strong expertise Scandic possesses to develop and operate hotels. We look forward to Hotel Norge continuing to consolidate its position as one of Norway’s best hotels”, says Geir Hove on behalf of the property owner.

Specialists in brassware solutions Crosswater is excited to announce the launch of five new tap ranges, adding to their already comprehensive portfolio of designs. Offering five unique styles – Dune, Wedge, Silk, Pier and Trapeze – the latest innovative collections have been carefully designed to suit any taste or bathroom scheme, from the highly contemporary angles of Wedge to the more traditional curves of Dune.

Beautifully manufactured from chrome-plated brass, each design has its own distinctive characteristics that are guaranteed to make a striking statement to enhance any basin unit.

Blending form, function and quality, Crosswater’s brassware ranges offer exceptional value and superior design to create the perfect finishing touch for your bathroom.

The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of The Grand Mansion, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nanjing, in the capital of China’s Jiangsu province. Led by I.M. Pei Architects with HBA Interior Design, the Grand Mansion’s design draws inspiration from Nanjing’s time as the nation’s capital during its Ming-dynasty apogee and then again as the capital of the Republic of China in the early twentieth century. Evoking the residential feel of a private noble home, the hotel boasts an extensive art collection, handcrafted textiles, opulent chinaware and a compelling collection of books on local history and culture.

The hotel features 158 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, including 15 suites and an expansive Presidential Suite, designed to capture the destination’s profound history and rich cultural legacy.

Guests can relax in the Xi Lounge, which offers an exquisite collection of teas. For dinner, the traditional Xuan Ling Ge Chinese restaurant artfully serves “Min Guo” cuisine, a culinary signature of Nanjing that fuses Huaiyang, Hangzhou, and traditional Taiwanese flavours; while The Atrium offers all-day dining option, specializing in Nanjing and international cuisines, including Min Guo-style dishes, barbecue and local snacks.

The Grand Mansion also presents guests with a range of leisure facilities, such as a fitness centre, indoor heated pool and luxurious spa. It boasts flexible meeting spaces, including a grand ballroom spanning nearly 6000 square feet and seven distinct, spacious meeting rooms.

After a storm of comments from the golfing fraternity, the Fairmont St Andrews has issued an open invitation to Sky Sports TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher to make a return visit to the luxury accommodation provider at the ‘Home of Golf’.
Kirsty Gallacher was accused of damaging the driving range with her choice of shoes. (Picture from @TheRealKirstyG on Twitter)

Gallacher became the talk of the media and social networking sites last week after interviewing the Open Championship favourite Jordan Spieth on the driving range of the award-winning resort in ground-damaging three-inch stiletto heels.

The 39-year-old was mistakenly accused of speaking to the Masters and US Open champion on the hallowed turf of St Andrews’ Old Course — venue for this week’s Open, which concludes on Monday — only for the interview to actually have taken place at Fairmont St Andrews on the outskirts of town.

The Fairmont St Andrews, ©Kevin Murray

John Keating, Fairmont St Andrews’ general manager, said: “All the comments have come as a complete surprise to us given that Fairmont St Andrews was clearly recognisable from the pictures used.

“Contrary to the reports, the only damage done was by Jordan Spieth smashing a small glass target on the driving range with a perfectly-struck shot. We would be delighted to see Kirsty back here any time.”

The Fairmont St Andrews, photo from The Azalea Group

The multi-award-winning Fairmont St Andrews sits in a majestic cliff-top location overlooking the North Sea and the historic ‘Auld Grey Toon’.

Voted IAGTO’s European Golf Resort of the Year in 2012 and winner of the award for ‘best large hotel’ in the 2014 Scottish Golf Tourism Awards, the resort boasts two championship golf courses — The Torrance and The Kittocks — and has played host to a number of prestigious events, including both the Open Championship’s final local qualifying and the Scottish Senior Open, which it has hosted for the past six years.

The Fairmont St Andrews, ©David Cannon

Last week saw the opening of Sheraton® Hyderabad Hotel, a newly renovated property by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, in one of India’s fastest-growing cultural and industrial hubs.The SAMHI-owned property marks the 44th Starwood hotel in India, the third Starwood hotel in the south-central Indian city of Hyderabad, and the third Sheraton in India.

Boasting 272 modern and stylishly designed rooms, the property also features a spa for guests to unwind, a pool and the state-of-the-art Sheraton Fitness® centre. Feast, the hotel’s signature all-day dining venue, offers an interactive dining experience with live cooking stations and show kitchens.

In the coming months the hotel will also open Azia, a Pan Asian speciality restaurant, and Chimes, a rooftop bar offering captivating panoramic views. The hotel includes more than 950 square metres of ballroom, boardroom, and meeting room space. All venues are equipped with audio-visual technology and are backed by an outstanding events team.

“The opening of Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel demonstrates our commitment to continual growth as we further position Sheraton as the global hotel brand of choice, everywhere,” said Dave Marr, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “With a history as vibrant and spirited as the travellers we welcome, Hyderabad is a key destination for Sheraton as we expand our presence across India.”

Hyderabad is also home to many historic and tourist sites, such as the ancient mosque Charminar, the Salar Jung museum, the Nizam’s museum, the Falaknuma Palace, and the famous retail corridor encompassing the Pearl Market, Laad Bazaar and Madina Circle. Additional recreational activities include the picturesque Public Gardens, which enclose many major landmarks, and the Birla Planetarium. Ramoji Film City, the largest moviemaking facility in the world, is an hour’s drive from town.

Silversea Cruises is happy to announce its new flagship, the Silver Muse, to be delivered in the spring of 2017. The new ultra-luxury ship is being built by Fincantieri and at 40,000 grt accommodates 596 guests, representing an exciting evolution of the Silver Spirit that will redefine ultra-luxury ocean travel, enhancing the small-ship intimacy and spacious all-suite accommodations that are the hallmarks of the Silversea experience.The addition of the Silver Muse will expand Silversea’s fleet to nine ships, and will once again significantly raise the bar in the ultra-luxury cruise market with a wealth of enhancements to the on board experience, while satisfying the uncompromising requirements for comfort, service, and quality of the world’s most discerning travellers.

“We have always had a special relationship with Fincantieri, since my father ordered from them the first cruise vessels for Sitmar Cruises in 1987,” said Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, chairman of Silversea. “Both companies have a clear understanding of what today’s affluent traveller seeks, and each approaches the market with originality, creativity, and quality. The management team led by Giuseppe Bono has been exceptional in managing Silversea’s project.”

According to Enzo Visone, Silversea’s CEO, “With enhanced design specifications and enriched content, the Silver Muse will continue to build on the sophistication, innovative style and ground-breaking concepts for which Silversea ships are renowned. This ship contributes to our ambitious growth plans that will ensure our continued leadership in ultra-luxury cruising.”

“We’re very pleased to once again partner with Silversea,” commented Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri. “Silversea has shown remarkable dynamism and ability to achieve important results in this market. This project offers us the opportunity to develop creative solutions and set new standards for shipbuilding in the ultra-luxury segment, a segment in which Fincantieri has won every new order on the market in the past year.”

Additional details and specifications on the new ship will be announced in the near future.

The Dusit Thani Guam Resort opened its doors in its soft-opening phase on June 30, marking a major milestone for Guam’s tourism industry. The island’s newest luxury, five-star hotel offers unrivalled hospitality, impeccable service, breathtaking views of magnificent Tumon Bay and a variety of dining options. “The opening heralds an exciting new era of hospitality on the island and we look forward to introducing our products and services. The Dusit brand embodies the richness and tradition of Thai culture that is synonymous with world-class hospitality, and we look forward to delivering outstanding service for business and leisure guests alike,” said General Manager Dean Huntsman.

Guests can enjoy a full range of modern amenities and facilities designed to make each stay a unique and personalized experience. Guestrooms feature: luxurious high thread count Egyptian linens, a complimentary mini-bar, automated black-out blinds, and complimentary high-speed Internet access.

Dusit Thani Guam Resort invites guests to enjoy Aqua, an all-day-dining café. The plentiful buffet with live cooking stations is sure to please any palate. Executive Chef Andrea Gerometta, from Venice, has crafted an expansive menu with impeccable presentation to ensure an unparalleled dining experience for guests. Dusit Gourmet, a 24 hour delicatessen, serves freshly baked breads and pastries, crisp salads, deli-style sandwiches, refreshing smoothies and trendy coffee and tea creations. The Lobby Lounge outdoor terrace is the perfect venue to unwind from the day with artfully crafted cocktails while taking in the spectacular Guam sunset.

The official hotel opening is scheduled to follow in the coming months as the remaining room inventory, restaurants, Guam Convention Center, and Devarana Spa are completed and opened to the public.

Al Rayyan Tourism Investment Company (“ARTIC”), the international hotel investment and hospitality subsidiary of Al Faisal Holding Company, one of Qatar’s largest private diversified industry groups has acquired the award-winning St Regis Washington, D.C. The St. Regis Washington, D.C. is the United States capital’s premier luxury hotel. Located two blocks north of the White House at the intersection of 16th and K Streets, the 182-room property is considered the best hotel address in the city. The hotel couples classic elegance with modern amenities, offering luxury rooms and suites, complete with flawless furnishings, state-of-the-art technology and gracious residential touches.

The property, which also comprises an adjacent 22,000 sq.ft. parcel with significant development potential, will continue to fly the flag of St. Regis reflecting ARTICs success in partnering with world-class hotel operators.

H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of ARTIC, commented on the acquisition:
“I am particularly pleased with this acquisition; St. Regis Washington D.C. fits perfectly with our expansion strategy and investment criteria; it has an extraordinary location, superb asset quality and beautiful architecture. ARTIC is taking significant strides towards achieving its objective of building a portfolio of iconic hotels in all of the major cities around the World. This is our fourth landmark hotel property in the US, where we are present in Chicago, Miami, New York and now Washington D.C. This latest acquisition further underlines our success in creating one of the leading international hospitality investment companies as we build on our strong Qatari base and I look forward to continuing to enhance the ARTIC portfolio in line with the Company’s medium-term plans for a flotation on one of the international stock exchanges”.

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Vice Chairman of ARTIC, said:
“ARTIC is built on strong foundation, since its establishment in 2003, it stayed committed to achieving its vision. We have a long term investment approach which is clearly paying off. ARTIC portfolio has over 24 premium hotels and resorts located in the MENA, Europe and the United States. ARTIC’s commitment to maintaining the quality of its investments is a key factor in achieving success. We continuously review and evaluate our properties, finding ways to maximise operational efficiency. We work with renowned hotel operators, and it’s the quality of our assets and our commitment that makes ARTIC the partner of choice. I am looking forward for future growth that will enhance our leading market positon.”

Mr. Tarek M. El Sayed, Executive Board Member also added:
“We are delighted to expand our North American portfolio through the acquisition of this world-class property. The US is a key market for our geographic expansion and Washington DC is an excellent location with high barriers to entry and increasing revenues. In line with our strategy to prioritise high quality assets to which we can add further value, this acquisition has the potential for further development. In addition to the 182-room luxury hotel it includes an adjacent parcel allowing for the development of approximately 22,000 sq.ft. additional space zoned for hotel, office, most retail, parking and/or residential uses. Going forward we will continue to look for similar opportunities to build and further enhance our portfolio, and to review other potential acquisitions holding the St. Regis brand, in the US market and beyond.”

The Grandhotel Petersberg in Bonn-Königswinter is a building steeped in history that has formed part of the Steigenberger Hotel Group’s portfolio for 25 years. And now it has been scheduled to undergo an extensive programme of modernisation.

The hotel will remain open for business whilst renovation works take place. The federal German government, which also uses the site as its official guesthouse, will be contributing €35 million (£24.6 million) to the project.

The Grandhotel’s room capacity is set to be expanded from the current 99 to 111. Air conditioning, modern fixtures and fittings will be installed in all rooms. The hotel’s restaurants and public areas will also be renovated and redesigned, and guests will be able to use a new outdoor pavilion. A complete modernisation of building services and of the sewage system will ensure uniform high standards throughout.

Construction work is set to commence in 2016 and will be conducted in stages in order to allow normal hotel operations to continue; sections of the hotel will be reopened as they are completed. The whole programme is expected to be concluded by the end of 2017.

“In future, our guests will benefit from modern standards within a traditional atmosphere,” said Matthias Heck, CFO of Steigenberger Hotels. “We have taken the conscious decision to create a symbiosis of old and new that enables the charm of the building to be retained,” he added.

To be awarded a World Architecture Festival (WAF) Award is widely considered as a career boost in the international architecture field. The event, taking place from November 4 to 6 at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, is the largest gathering of the world’s architecture community. This is why the publication of the award nominees was awaited with great anticipation. In mid-June the organisers finally announced the shortlisted projects and the names of the hopeful nominees. As WAF’s founding partner, GROHE will, once again, be the main sponsor of the renowned event. The event is in its eighth year, and GROHE will present the coveted award for the “World Building of the Year”.This year over 600 projects were submitted for consideration by the WAF panel. Later in the year, all shortlisted entrants will give live presentations of their projects to the high-calibre panel at the Festival in Singapore. The panel this year includes Sir Peter Cook, Manuelle Gautrand, Sou Fujimoto and Kerry Hill.

Apart from the architectural awards, the event will once again offer a wide ranged programme comprising of numerous seminars, discussions and presentations. On all three days the festival hall will be the meeting place for the WAF delegates, allowing them to mingle, network and inform themselves about innovative projects as well as products and services presented by leading international companies.

GROHE will be in attendance with a large exhibition booth showcasing numerous recent additions to its product range. These will include the water-proof Aquatunes Bluetooth speaker, the GROHE Blue® water system and an array of digital home spa solutions. In addition, the manufacturer will present the horizontal shower Aqua Cloud – a concept for luxurious rejuvenation. The current “Masters of Technology” campaign will form the impressive setting of GROHE’s booth in the festival hall. The campaign highlights the company’s long tradition as a technological innovator and GROHE’s continuing focus on progress and advancement in the sanitary sector.

“Congratulations to all nominees who have made it onto the shortlist and cleared the first hurdle towards the WAF Awards. Now we can all look forward to three exciting and inspiring festival days in November,” said Grohe AG CEO Michael Rauterkus.

The Festival kicks off with a “PechaKucha night”. This Japanese event format is unique in that it compresses a large number of presentations into a short time frame – limiting each speaker to a maximum of 20 slides and 20 seconds per slide explanation. For GROHE, Paul Flowers, Senior Vice President Design, will be among the speakers. As usual, the festival will be concluded by the grand gala dinner where the overall winners of the Awards will be announced.

Leading Japanese hospitality company Fujita Kanko Inc. announced two hotel openings in Kyoto, Japan in its Hotel Gracery group: Kyoto Teramachi in 2016 and Kyoto Shinkyogoku in 2017 (tentative names). The two hotels will be constructed across from each other at a prime location in Kyoto near Shinkyogoku, the 140-year-old famous shopping district. The neighbourhood is also filled with temples and other sightseeing attractions, and is only fifteen minutes away by taxi, or just a few subway stops away, from Kyoto JR station, the main entry point for Kyoto.

The two hotels will strategically complement each other. All 97 rooms of Hotel Gracery Kyoto Teramachi will be double rooms while Hotel Gracery Kyoto Shinkyogoku’s 128 rooms will all be twin rooms so that guests can select their hotel according to their accommodation needs. Both hotels’ rooms are expected to have separate toilets/bathrooms. Both will offer breakfast menus featuring locally grown products.

“We are excited to be opening two new hotels in Kyoto, one of the most popular destinations in the world with a 2,500-year history, the ancient capital of Japan,” said Akira Segawa, President and CEO of Fujita Kanko. “Our hotels will offer ultimate convenience and comfort in style and at a reasonable cost. We have over 50 years of experience in hotel management in Kyoto. We are confident that we can make our properties stand out in this competitive hotel market to appeal to both domestic and international guests.”

According to the Kyoto City Tourism Bureau, the number of international visitors grew 35 percent in 2013 compared to 2012. Anticipating a growing number of visitors, designated staff at the hotels will provide local information and assistance with various activities. “Because we have properties throughout Japan, visitors can design a personalized itinerary staying with us, whether it’s starting from Kyoto or Tokyo,” adds Segawa. Fujita Kanko will also open Hotel Gracery Okinawa in 2016.

Marriott International has announced the opening of the Makkah Marriott Hotel, its first flagship brand in the Holy city.

The Arabic-themed 426-room property sits on the hilltop of Makkah, providing guests with exquisite views of the Holy city and Haram. Those travelling to the city for Hajj will now have a comfortable and convenient place to stay while undertaking one of the most important journeys of their lives.

The property boasts spacious rooms and all are furnished with modern conveniences and serviced by some of the most professionally-trained hotel staff anywhere in the world. The Makkah Marriott Hotel also lives up to Marriott’s goal of reimagining the future of travel for the next generation of travellers, who demand style, substance and the technology to stay connected.

Signature features at the newly opened property include the Greatroom lobby and mobile check-in and check-out facility. With the Marriott Mobile App, guests can also easily check-in before their arrival and will receive an automatic notification when their room is ready, making it a seamless experience.

“It’s very fitting that our flagship brand, Marriott Hotels is seeing a rapid expansion in Saudi Arabia. The opening of a Marriott hotel in Makkah is part of our commitment to fill a growing gap in the religious tourism sector in the region, which experts estimate will exponentially increase as the population of the Islamic faith grows,” Alex Kyriakidis, President of Marriott Middle East & Africa said.

During the annual pilgrimage of Hajj and Umrah, a tradition that Muslims from all over the world need to fulfil at least once in their lifetime, millions from across the globe converge on Makkah. The Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) forecasts that domestic tourism will grow to a staggering 128 million trips and 640 million hotel nights by 2019.

Marriott’s commitment to Saudi Arabia is deep-rooted with its 35-year old legacy in the region. Marriott International began operations in the Middle East region back in 1980 with the opening of the 411-room Riyadh Marriott Hotel. Marriott International has set its sights on further strengthening its presence in the Middle East with 19 new Saudi properties in the pipeline.

Luxury award-winning bed manufacturer Hypnos, which specialises in the design, manufacture and installation of hospitality beds, has seen increased demand for its large format upholstered headboards due to the rise in boutique hotels and boutique style.With the popularity of boutique hotels showing no signs of abating, the company, which holds a royal warrant, has designed a range of show stopping tall headboards, which include the Katherine, Vienna and Elizabeth headboard, to meet the demand for stylish yet practical beds. This latest collection of headboards is available in a range of styles and sizes, with standard heights from the floor ranging from 1.3M to1.6M.

Chris Ward, Marketing Director at Hypnos, comments: “With the boutique hotel sector now accounting for 6.1% of the market*, there’s much more emphasis on the atmosphere, appearance and design of a guest room. It’s not enough to have a great look, everything needs to be tied together throughout the room to create a unified interior.

“More and more hoteliers are creating beds which are the focal point of the room and really have that wow factor and impact. Our large format headboards, which run all the way to the floor to create a striking look, seem to be a hugely popular choice for creating this effect.

“But it’s not just the smaller boutique hotels that favour this look. We’ve also noticed that large scale hotels are tapping into this trend and trying to recreate the boutique look with a designer headboard and divan base upholstered in matching fabric.

“Our luxurious collection enhances the look of the bed and compliments our sumptuous mattresses. Hypnos prides itself on working with our customers to design and produce bespoke beds that are unique to their needs, helping them to ensure their guests always get the best night’s sleep possible.”

Alongside this stylish new range of headboards, which all comply with Crib 5 Fire Retardancy regulations, Hypnos’ specialist Contract Division offers a bespoke service to ensure the beds are not only supremely comfortable, practical, durable and meet stringent safety requirements, but will also meet the stylish and chic requirements of a boutique hotel guest room. Furthermore the team also offers a complete project management solution, from design, delivery and in-room installation to a disposal and recycling service for old beds.

For more information about Hypnos, which is a Carbon Neutral British manufacturer, please visit www.hypnoscontractbeds.com.

MGallery, part of the Accor Group, will be opening two new properties in the UK. The Queens Hotel Cheltenham and Castle Hotel Windsor will both open this September.The Queens Hotel, Cheltenham
MGallery celebrates the revival of a beautiful heritage property as Queens Hotel, Cheltenham becomes a stunning to the Collection’s UK establishments.

The hotel was originally completed in 1838 on the site of the Sherborne spa, after it was moved stone by stone, further down the Promenade. Named in honour of the sovereign, the hotel first opened on the 21st July 1838, the year of Queen Victoria’s coronation. It was later listed as a Grade II English Heritage building in acknowledgment of its opulent design and stunning details.

As is true of every stunning MGallery property, Queens Hotel has a strong and unique personality, truly reflected through carefully crafted décor and the loving and loyal restoration of timeless details. The hotel is truly a place filled with history.

The Castle Hotel, Windsor
The Castle Hotel Windsor will also join the unique and remarkable collection of MGallery hotels. Blending a rich past with contemporary charm, this hotel truly makes a mark on history.

A signature hotel, its strong personality and fascinating history are subtly woven throughout the building and the footprints left by the guests over the centuries are palpable. A classic and elegant Georgian building is the main bearer of the hotel’s history, location, prestige and style through time; both charmingly weathered and discerningly refined whilst simpler yet stylish and authentic surroundings provide a reminder of its busy stables and post horses days.

There are 108 charming bedrooms at Castle Hotel, which include five exquisite suites, all featuring plush bedding, indulgent bathrooms and quirky design references to the hotel’s past.

Brintons, the world’s leading carpet manufacturer, is showcasing the ‘Best of British’ at Maison & Objet Paris’ 20th anniversary exhibition on the 4th – 8th September.This will be the first year that Brintons will be exhibiting at the prestigious show in Paris, and it will be displaying a design from its HD Weave collection designed in collaboration with Cristian Zuzunaga. The collection provides the ability to weave in up to 32 colours and creates stunning photorealistic effects.

There will also be able an opportunity to view the new Inspirations collection, with a design being on display at the stand. Inspirations has been created based on three themes including tropical, geometric, and architectural, by a team of in-house designers.

Anna Plumb, Europe Sales Manager for Brintons, comments: “Maison & Objet in Paris is a key event, which attracts those at the forefront of design. That’s why we’re delighted to be showcasing our collections, which have all been created by talented British designers.

“It is our first time at the exhibition and we’ve had a strong year launching many new collections as well as creating a range of bespoke carpets for a range of commercial projects and we’re excited to be able to promote this at Maison & Objet.”

To learn more about Brintons visit www.brintons.net or to visit them at the show they can be found in Hall 8 on Stand D37.

The Westin Chicago River North, owned by Host Hotels & Resorts, has completed an extensive renovation that resulted in the transformation of its 429 guestrooms and 20th floor Executive Club Lounge. The Westin Chicago River North is one of the brand’s first hotels to offer the new Westin Generation IV room design, which creates a modern-day oasis from the rigours of travel with a soothing colour palate and a variety of natural design touches. In addition to spectacular city views, the guest rooms and suites boast fresh new carpeting and wallpaper; photography that captures the essence of Chicago; more flexible, adaptive furniture for better flow; and the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed – with lush sheets, down cushioning and a patented pillow-top mattress which cradles and contours to the body for complete comfort. In the hotel’s renovated bathrooms, guests will enjoy the Heavenly® Bath, enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and White Tea Aloe bath amenities. Additional amenities include in-room, high-speed Internet access and 42” flat screen televisions.

The hotel is also proud to announce the introduction of a new unique amenity, the Treadmill Desk. This sit-stand-walk workstation is being piloted in a guest room on-property, allowing travellers more opportunities to move and work well, while aligning with the Westin brand’s commitment to enhance the overall wellbeing of its guests.

The newly refurbished 20th floor Executive Club Lounge is the perfect spot to enjoy breathtaking views of the Chicago River and the city skyline, as well as complimentary breakfast, hors d’oeuvres and beverages. This sleek space features new flooring and wallpaper, flexible seating areas, and amenities including 42” plasma televisions, complimentary magazines and newspapers, high-speed Internet, computers and printing stations.

A popular choice for meetings and weddings, The Westin Chicago River North now features 19 total meetings rooms and over 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with the addition of the Riverfront room. All meeting and event rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art meeting technology.

Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, evening cocktails, appetizers, as well as other Westin SuperFoodsRX™ options at Hana located in the lobby. Kamehachi Sushi Bar, also located in the lobby, features an enticing selection of Japanese specialities which can also be enjoyed through in-room dining.

The Westin Chicago River North is a short stroll from the upscale boutiques along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, Chicago Theater, the Civic Opera House and a variety of world-class restaurants, night clubs and bars. The hotel also offers convenient access to many top-rated attractions including Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Art Institute of Chicago and Wrigley Field – home of the legendary Chicago Cubs baseball team.

The iconic Mercure Bristol Holland House and Spa has undergone an extensive refurbishment, transforming its bedrooms and public spaces.

Keeping Bristol’s rich industrial and maritime history in mind for its new design, Mercure has blended the hotel’s locally-inspired roots with a modern and contemporary feel.

The new design features industrial and iron works alongside softened tones, warm accent colours and splashes of vibrant upholstery fabrics. There are visual references and nods to the engineering works of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and textures and patterns inspired by the Clifton Bridge.

The refurbishment has transformed the public spaces, creating an extensive area for lounging, meeting, drinking and dining, all in the Urban Bar and Kitchen. The newly transformed restaurant is the perfect space to relax, unwind and enjoy delicious hassle-free food. The new bar and dining area includes an expansion of the space; new feature floor tiling with intricate detailed inset carpet areas and a breathtaking feature wall graphic inspired by Bristol’s rich maritime heritage.

The hotel offers a range of accommodation across its newly refurbished 275 bedrooms, including classic and privilege rooms ensuring the highest level of luxury comfort. Each bedroom is equipped with a TV including international satellite channels; 24-hour room service and free Wi-Fi access, which is available throughout the hotel.

The hotel caters both for leisure and business guests, with twelve conference rooms for meetings of all sizes, ideal for any business event. The hotel’s leisure facilities include a large heated pool, fitness suite and a spa where guests can indulge in a relaxing massage or treatment in one of the hotels fourteen treatment rooms as part of their stay.

Interior designer Jennifer Preston of Koncept Interior designs, said of the project: “The ethos of Mercure Hotels is based on local inspirations, we wanted to capture this theme throughout the design by embracing Bristol and its rich industrial history. Throughout the public areas of the hotel, the interior encompasses stylish industrial design, clean lines and patterned surfaces, and contrasting materials to add depth and interest.”

Located in the heart of Baku White City district and set right at the Baku Bay, Boulevard Hotel Baku has recently joined the collection of independent hotels under the Marriott Autograph Collection.This stunning hotel offers 818 guest rooms, three restaurants and fantastic conference facilities, with the largest space on offer in Azerbaijan.

Baulmann Leuchten did not only produce the desk- and table-lamps in Vintage look, but also the fancy floor lamps in all the guestrooms.

For the public areas large scaled ceiling- and wall-lamps have been engineered and produced according to the designs given by the interior architects.

All pictures are copyright by “Pasha Inshaat MMC, Baku”.

It’s been a month since Clarion Hotel and Congress Malmö Live opened in spectacular fashion; when Norwegian hotel tycoon Petter Stordalen powered through the canals of the Swedish city on a jet-ski before crashing head first into concrete stairs in front of 10,000 people. It was a rather inglorious start to an otherwise astounding project.Standing at an impressive 85 metres high, Clarion Hotel & Congress at the Malmö Live mega-complex is the new landmark in Malmö skyline. Made up of three towers and the city’s largest hotel with 444 rooms – the tallest has 25 floors with a skybar and a Tengbom-designed restaurant headed by Scandinavian culinary superstar Marcus Samuelsson.

The hotel forms part of the wider $400 million Malmö Live complex, which offers a world-class concert hall, conference centre and hotel all in one. Covering an entire city block in the heart of the city, the 90,000 m2 concourse comes complete with leafy avenues and waterfront eateries. Architects schmidt hammer lassen designed Malmö Live around the idea of a small city, focusing on open and dynamic layout that offers numerous activities.

The lobby was designed to resemble a street, which runs through the entire ground floor and ties everything together. Like medieval cities, which had curved, narrow streets organized around plazas and squares, the lobby is designed to form small gathering places and recesses where visitors can stop, sit and enjoy the view of the canal and the park.

The hotel’s interior is simple, consisting of rough black concrete, stone, wood and brass. The street life outside is drawn directly inside to support the open nature of the building. The designers renamed their gigantic 1,076 square-foot presidential suite which covers the entire 23rd floor of the Clarion Hotel Malmö Live, with the ‘Zlatan Ibrahimovic Suite’, further immortalising the striker in his hometown where he was born and started his career.

“There is only one president in Malmö, and it’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic”, said hotel sales manager Lotta Pieplow to the local newspaper Sydsvenskan after getting the approval for the suite from the 33-year-old striker. The Paris Saint-Germain front man is one of the most popular figures in Swedish sporting history. The suite will feature floor-to-ceiling views of the local harbour in Malmö and have a Nordic design mixing modern tech and ancient aristocracy with pictures of Ibrahimovic on the walls, including an iconic 120 by 80 centimeter photo by Eric Broms. One night in the Ibra-shrine will set you back around a thousand dollars a night.

Nordic Choice group founder Petter Stordalen is a passionate collector of contemporary art and some sources value his collection at more than $50 million. It figures, then, that the new Clarion has its own art collection valued at $2 million as well as its own art curator – Sune Nordgren, former director of Norway’s National Museum of Art. He has worked with Stordalen for several years, making sure all of the art at his hotels is world class.

The Brunel collection from Gallery Direct’s Hudson Living range is made using dry oiled, wild oak veneered panels set in a black, cast metal framework. This contemporary collection was inspired by the clean sharp lines and strength of the nineteenth century industrial era.As well as the tall display cabinet, there is a side table, coffee table and console table available, all with an enduring quality and style reflecting back to and typifying a particular innovative period in our history.

For more information, please contact Gallery Direct via their website: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Swire Hotels is happy to announce the launch of The House Collective brand. With a growing portfolio of hotels in the region, The House Collective brings together the “House” hotels under a single brand. The name suggests a collection of residences or homes with a strong design collaboration and intent; referring to the “collective” being a cooperative enterprise and a group of close-knit, like-minded people working together towards a common goal.

Each with its own distinctive character and sense of style, The House Collective is a group of refined, highly individual hotels that defy comparison. The Upper House, The Opposite House and The Temple House are all uniquely imagined hotels for seasoned travelers who seek a different, intimate and personalised experience in luxury travel.

The Upper House, Hong Kong
Located in Hong Kong, The Upper House was designed by architect Andre Fu. A calming contemporary hotel, The Upper House is a haven within the city. The hotel’s 117 studios and suites are surprisingly spacious, featuring natural materials and gorgeous bathrooms. Enjoy thrilling views from Level 49 at Café Gray Deluxe.

The Opposite House, Beijing
The Opposite House is a striking hotel that puts guests in the heart of Beijing life. Designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the 99-studio hotel mixes dramatic contemporary style with Chinese traditional designs and abundant space. Its four modern, lively restaurants and bars are essential destinations in Taikoo Li Sanlitun Beijing.

The Temple House, Chengdu
In Chengdu, a beautifully restored traditional courtyard building leads guests along stepping stones to The Temple House, a very contemporary hotel inspired by a Chinese aesthetic. Make Architects designed an alluring 100-studio hotel with 49 residences, three restaurants and a bar, engaging event spaces, landscaped hills and courtyards, plus an urban day spa with a teahouse and subterranean event spaces.

The award-winning St Michaels Hotel and Spa in Falmouth has been put up for sale, with offers in excess of £20 million being sought. Located adjacent to Gyllyngvase Beach with views over Falmouth Bay, the hotel is just five minutes from the town centre and moments from the third largest natural harbour in the world.

St Michaels benefits from full planning consent and includes an iconic residential building to be known as ‘The Liner’ with 56 sea facing apartments to include a number of premium penthouse apartments, as well as a new sea facing restaurant and a further 17 apartments within the 4.2 acre site.

St Michaels Hotel and Spa is an award winning hotel that has seen consistent growth and reinvestment during the ownership of Nigel and Julie Carpenter, who have repositioned the business to be one of the best in the county.

Following their acquisition of the adjoining Falmouth Beach Hotel site, they have worked hard to create a scheme which not only takes the hotel to a whole new level of experience for guests and local customers but delivers a balance of hotel, resort and residential living that fully complements the spirit of the sea that the position of the hotel commands.

The hotel is a standalone successful venture which will also reposition 30 lodge style rooms to mirror the deluxe rooms in the main complex. There are also plans for an extended spa, new health club and seafront access as well as a larger function space and four attractive eco spa lodges within the grounds.

Michael Easton, associate director at JLL, said: “St Michaels is a huge success in its own right and has established itself as one of the very best hotels in the South West peninsula.

“The current owners have created a brand that signifies quality relaxed coastal living and have worked hard to create an overall vision for the larger site in years to come, which will provide for first class hotel and conference accommodation, premium residential living and leisure space.

“The position is second to none and, with the sensitive residential development, we have no doubt that this will create huge interest in the market. The award winning team behind St Michaels are very much part of the vision and it will be business as usual whilst we deal with the inward investment needed to take this great hotel into its next transition.

“The opportunity to offer a marketing leading, highly profitable hotel in the South West is rare enough, but one which offers scope to create the next generation of coastal holiday, leisure and residential accommodation is very exciting. We expect global interest.”

Nigel Carpenter, owner of the hotel, said: “This is a very special place and a wonderful opportunity to create a “best in class” spa resort and lifestyle development. It has been a labour of love these past 14 years building an exceptional hotel & spa from the tired, worn-out property I inherited. Our outstanding staff and management team are excited by the future plans.”

The prestigious site of The All England Lawn Tennis Club, perhaps better known as the home of The Championships Wimbledon, is the latest major installation that Morgan have been proud to be part of.The team at Wimbledon, working with the design team at Morgan, completed an exhaustive and thorough review of furniture for the new interiors for the Aorangi Pavilion and Millennium Building lounge. Working with their Estates Department, Morgan provided tables and seating designs from the Brompton, Lima, Lucca, Boston & Pastille Collections, in an oak species and upholstered in the Wimbledon purple and green brand colours.

The main area is the Aorangi Pavilion, which provides a large, bright and contemporary space for the international players on tour. There is a players’ dining room and lounge, which extends into the players’ terrace overlooking the main practice courts.

A number of armchairs from the Panama Collection have also been used in the players’ changing areas on the ground floor and the Brompton sofas have been used throughout the Millennium Building lounge, to offer the same classic yet contemporary feel.

Morgan worked closely with Wimbledon on this project to ensure the right product was selected throughout the spaces, creating a comfortable, relaxing and reflective environment for the players.

Hamilton Litestat is set to showcase its portfolio of switch and socket wall plate designs, as well as its lighting control and multi-room audio systems at Decorex International 2015, Syon Park, London. Hamilton will join an unrivalled collection of exhibitors, featuring over 300 brands from across the interior design world from 20 to 23 September. With Hamilton on trend and inspirational design combines with smart technology to offer interiors professionals an array of irresistible options.

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.

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, and recently welcomed as an ‘Industry Partner’ within the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), Hamilton has an eye for design and obsession 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.

DECOREX 2015/Stand #H17

For further information on Hamilton’s full range of products and services, please visit: www.hamilton-litestat.com or call +44 (0)1747 860088.

May Highlights
• Hotel profits in Dubai and Jeddah continue to fall
• The summer slow-down impacts hotel performance in Doha and Manama
• Kuwait hotels beat the regional trend with a growth in performance levels

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the company has commenced construction on Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos. The resort, owned by Quinta del Golfo de Cortez, SA de CV, will span 33 acres and include an extensive spa, residences, vacation ownership units and a private beach club. Slated to open in June 2017, Solaz will be Starwood’s first Luxury Collection hotel in Los Cabos and the brand’s seventh hotel in Mexico, following the recent conversion of Las Alcobas in Mexico City.

“This marks a milestone year for The Luxury Collection, as the brand continues to grow globally, debut marquee conversion hotels and invest in landmark renovations,” said Hoyt H. Harper II, Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts. “As we break ground on Solaz, we look forward to introducing a new level of luxury to the extraordinary beaches of Los Cabos.”

“As an architectural sculpture that pays tribute to the contemporary art of Mexico, Solaz will be the perfect fit for The Luxury Collection brand,” said Patricio del Portillo, Director of Development & Acquisitions for Mexico & Central America, Starwood hotels & Resorts. “It is designed to immerse our discerning global guests and residents in the indigenous beauty of the destination, while delivering the unparalleled luxury service the brand is known for.”

Ideally situated at the southern-most tip of Baja California Sur, Solaz will feature 131 luxuriously-appointed guestrooms and suites in five distinct six-floor buildings. A renowned team of architects, designers and artisans were assembled to design and build Solaz. Led by Mexico City-based Sordo Madaleno Architects, the team collaborated with landscape architects Gabayet 101paisaje and artist Cesar Lopez Negrete, whose original works will be featured throughout the property. Each room will be designed to complement the lush landscape and breathtaking ocean views, with a natural color palette incorporating wood and granite. All of the guestrooms will boast a spectacular outdoor terrace, many with jacuzzis, as well as exquisite amenities. A two-bedroom Presidential suite will also offer a private swimming pool.

Solaz will be home to three restaurants, including an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, and a pool area grill. In addition to offering an expansive pool and beach deck that spans more than 26,000 square feet, the luxury resort will also feature a spa and fitness facility spanning approximately 12,500 square foot, three tennis courts and miles of walking and running paths. For meetings and special events, Solaz will feature more than 9,900 square feet of state-of-the-art event space, accommodating social and business groups.

Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, Los Cabos will be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts as part of The Luxury Collection brand, joining the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Golf & Spa Resort and The Westin Resort & Spa, Los Cabos.

The first phase of an ambitious five-year renovation project to restore Bovey Castle to its former glory has been completed.

Leading luxury operator the Eden Hotel Collection, the AA Small Hotel Group of the Year 2014 / 2015, embarked on the £2 million restoration and refurbishment in January, less than six months after acquiring the award-winning country house estate in Dartmoor National Park. The estate includes an 18-hole championship golf course, spa, country lodges and an outdoor-pursuits centre.

Eden’s multi-million-pound investment includes initial restoration work to the hotel and the renovation of the entire ground floor, transforming the restaurant, bistro and public rooms. A boutique shop has been added and the spa has been refurbished with a glamorous Art Deco feel.

The Edwardian Restaurant has been gutted and redesigned to introduce a Champagne bar, along with new panelling, drapes and luxurious soft furnishings. As a nod to Bovey Castle’s rich history and heritage, it has been renamed Great Western Restaurant in honour of the glorious Great Western Railway, the first owners to open Bovey Castle as a golfing hotel in 1930.

At the other end of the hotel, the Castle Bistro has been transformed into Smith’s Brasserie – named as a tribute to one-time owner and pioneering 19th Century entrepreneur WH Smith – and now boasts a striking fire pit at its centre, a theatre kitchen and cosy corners for couples.

All the design and refurbishment work has been undertaken by award-winning interior design practice NH Interiors, who worked alongside the Eden Hotel Collection’s own Design Director, Marian Cartter.

With phase one of renovation work now completed, a special invitation-only event was held last week (June 18) to mark the re-launch of the hotel.

Sir Peter Rigby, owner of the Eden Hotel Collection, was joined by the group’s directors and 150 guests for the special event, which culminated in a stunning performance by The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, from the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone.

Guests were given a tour of the refurbished areas, including the spa, and enjoyed Champagne and tasting bites from the hotel restaurants’ new menus.

Speaking about the renovation project, the Eden Hotel Collection’s Managing Director, Mark Chambers, says: “Very little money had been spent on the hotel before it was acquired by the Eden Hotel Collection so it looked really tired.

“Bovey Castle is stunning and needed to be brought back to its former glory but we didn’t want to just redecorate, we wanted to make a statement and take the hotel into an exciting new era.

“Bovey Castle has long been regarded as the jewel in the crown of the leisure industry in the South West. With the breathtaking transformation of our restaurants, coupled with innovative new menus, we’ve taken it to the next level and introduced an amazing new dining experience which will be unrivalled anywhere in the region.

“We are also absolutely delighted with what we have achieved with our spa. The new spa area is incredibly glamorous with a distinct Art Deco feel, and has a lovely synergy with the rest of the refurbishment.”

The ground-floor renovation project is only the start of the Eden Hotel Collection’s investment in Bovey Castle, adds Mark.

“Bovey Castle is an iconic structure and it means a great deal to the Eden Hotel Collection to be the hotel’s new guardians.

“We now plan to renovate the bedrooms and bathrooms in the main house, then move on to the lodge investment programme. We also intend to invest in the golf course as well as in the normal maintenance works on the estate.”

The number of devices we own is multiplying at an uncontrollable rate. A recent study by Strategy Analytics predicts that there will be a staggering 33 billion connected devices by 2030, and the number of connections per person will double to roughly 4.3. Round-the-clock connectivity is now so deeply rooted in the day to day lives that a new ‘phobia’ has been created; Nomophobia – the fear of being without or having access to a mobile device.

A recent study into mobile device habits by MK Electric firmly demonstrates just how chained Britons are to their smartphones and tablets.

The figures are particularly pronounced amongst Millennials, showing that over a quarter have ‘lost contact’ with people while on the road due to a loss of battery power. The survey also shows losing battery power can make Millennials feel ‘very frustrated’ (39 per cent) and anxious (26 per cent).

Device proliferation and ‘Nomophobia’ aren’t just consumer problems; they also represent big challenges for business.

Whether its hoteliers trying to attract and retain guests, educators looking to deliver a first-class service to high school or airports making an effort to win the loyalty of regular travellers, the need to provide convenient mobile charging for patrons is vital. If it’s a straight-up decision between an airport coffee shop covered in handy, USB charging modules or one without; there’s no contest, is there?

The vast majority of the mobile devices rely on USB power to keep them going. If schools, hotels, shops and airport lounges take the easy step of installing USB charging solutions on-site, they will instantly make their premises, and by extension their services, more attractive to their target audience.

Hands down, Millennials and business travellers alike are more likely to choose the easiest option that lets them get on with their work or post and Tweet to their hearts content.

Traditionally the most popular form of USB charging has been the standalone module. However, MK Electric has added a second option to the mix; USB ports integrated into their existing standard twin socket.

This allows businesses to integrate USB charging functionality into their existing power points, taking advantage of existing wiring and circuitry.

In addition, solutions like the MK Electric USB Integrated Socket allow four devices to be charged at once – two plugs and two USBs.

Another important innovation is the advent of Dynamic Device Recognition (DDR), coined by MK Electric; a ‘smart’ approach to charging devices via USB which ensures whichever device is plugged in, that it charges in the most optimum way.

DDR works because different devices – a Samsung or an iPhone, a smartphone, tablet an MP3 player – actually charge in different ways. That’s why some USB chargers can perfectly charge, say, an iPhone 5, but struggle to make inroads into an iPad. DDR ensures that whatever make or model you are a charging – Apple, Samsung, Nokia, iPad and many more – that device recognises the socket or module as it would its own charger and draws current from the USB charging socket in the way that best suits its design.

The result is more juice, in a shorter space of time.

In a world where the number of devices owned is only growing and our attachment to those devices is borderline-excessive, businesses must prioritise investing in USB charging solutions to gain a competitive advantage.

For more information visit: www.mkelectric.co.uk

Statement artworks, inspired by the nearby famous Leyland truck factory, are complemented by Wilton’s striking carpet designs at The Leyland Hotel in Preston. Among an impressive line of Best Western Premier hotels being renovated in 2015, The Leyland Hotel has exacting standards when it comes to carpet specification, with a stunning combination of designs and colours employed.Two complementing simple, bold, organic designs: Plasma from Wilton’s Elements 1 collection, and Pom from their Natural Silhouettes collection, were selected by the design team. These were recoloured, using the Flexiweave palette, in royal hues of black, gold and marsala, to create a stunning theme running across floorplans.

Around 900sqm of carpet was laid: The Pom design in the main lounge, restaurant and bar, with contrasting colour combinations used in different areas; and the Plasma design gracing bedrooms.

An 80% pure wool, 20% nylon was specified by The Leyland, the team itself citing design and quality as reasons behind choosing Wilton Carpets Commercial.

Fergus Macdonald, General Manager at The Leyland, was impressed with the product and service on offer from Wilton, commenting, “The carpet’s aesthetic really matches the rest of the scheme, and we will have no hesitations in using Wilton again. In fact, we have had quotes to re-carpet the function suite, so this is already beginning to take shape.”

Installed by Kendal Quality Carpets, this wool-rich axminster has proved to be an ideal match for the hotel, incorporating an excellent aesthetic as well as top colour clarity, and crucially high-end appearance retention for the high traffic areas. With designs that have been modified to the exacting needs of The Leyland, Wilton Carpets Commercial has again demonstrated that there is substance behind its far-reaching reputation.

For further information contact Wilton Carpets Commercial on 01722 746000 or sales@wiltoncarpets.com

Aloft will soon add another destination to its California portfolio with the upcoming début of Aloft Dublin-Pleasanton. Owned by Zenique Hotels, the new Aloft is due to open in March 2017, featuring 120 rooms. Hotel facilities will include a large an outdoor Splash pool with cabanas, a 24-hour fitness centre, 1,200 square feet of flexible meeting space, re:fuel at Aloft – a one-stop gourmet grab & go food and beverage area, and the brand’s signature W XYZ bar where guests can 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.

“Aloft will operate nine hotels in California by 2017, with much of the brand’s growth fuelled by rising demand in and around Silicon Valley,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North America Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Owners and developers are eager to bring Aloft to new markets due to its success with the next generation of travellers.”

Ahead of The Dalmeny Hotel’s 70th birthday celebrations next year, the hotel has unveiled its £2.5 million refurbishment programme.Improvements to the 125 room hotel will see the renewal of 80 guestrooms; the development of a new function suite and ceremony room for weddings; the creation of a new restaurant – Indigo Bar and Grill – and improvements to the spa facilities are also planned to offer guests a health and wellbeing service – something commonly associated with upscale spa resorts up and down the country.

A new focus on leisure guests, corporate guests and events has been identified by the management and Samantha Lewis, Director of The Dalmeny Hotel says,
“As customer habits continue to evolve, hotels must stay in tune with trends and invest in quality to ensure we’re providing what people want. For example, as well as refurbishing our rooms and updating the bathrooms, we’ve also created new family rooms and added two more rooms with facilities for wheelchair users.

“We’re seeing an increase in wedding bookings, much of which has been due to the growing popularity of winter weddings and an upsurge in bookings from older clients. The new facilities will allow us to host up to 200 people for celebrations and corporate events, and we’re already experiencing high levels of demand.”

The Dalmeny Hotel has a busy 12 months ahead of it to bring the services it offers in line with the increasing demands of the modern traveller. I remember visiting the hotel as a young girl of around 11 or 12 and the hotel to me was a typical seaside B&B – more upscale than those found at Blackpool as it had an indoor pool that had salt water instead of chlorinated. I remember watching men playing squash from the pool area and giggling as older woman shuffled past us in bathrobes as they entered the beauty salon. It was my first real experience of a hotel – and one I have never forgotten.

Its resort-standard facilities include a choice of accommodation, from sea view rooms to family suites, delicious dining options, leisure club with spa, indoor heated swimming pool, beauty salon and fully equipped gymnasium and fitness rooms.

Samantha adds: “The real driving force behind this substantial investment comes from confidence in our product. Our renovation project takes into consideration the varying needs of different customers and we believe in aiming high. We’ll celebrate our 70th year next year and our family and corporate business continues to go from strength to strength. With this investment, we hope to grow this market even further.”

The Villas at AYANA Resort has relaunched 24 ultra-luxurious Ocean View Pool Villas following a complete renovation, designed to celebrate Balinese style and maximize the unrivaled ocean and sunset views of this exclusive retreat. Perfect for couples on honeymoon or a romantic rekindling, the one-bedroom Ocean View Pool Villas are among 78 spacious villas nestled within this breath-taking cliff-top sanctuary, which was announced as the World’s Leading Island Villas at the World Travel Awards in November. Inspired by the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, the design exudes a true sense of ‘place’.

Guests enter a calming space of warm palettes and textures, hand-crafted artworks, plush bedding and decor, and the seamless indoor to outdoor living that reflects the island’s iconic style. The gardens are a hive of colours and fragrances leading to koi ponds, bridges and streams, and connecting with a jogging track to the private white-sand beach.

“We have maintained the overall layout of the Ocean View Pool Villas as our guests told us they loved the views to the ocean, the large plunge pools, and the lush gardens which ensure privacy,” said Clive Edwards, General Manager. “But we have completely changed the interiors including all furniture and fixtures, and significantly increased living spaces and natural lighting. The result is a cosy cocoon where guests feel at home surrounded by the spirit and hospitality of Bali.”

Following the renovation, the one-bedroom Ocean View Pool Villas feature:
• 15% increase in size of interior living area, as part of the total 298sqm of indoor and outdoor space including plunge pool;
• New canopy-style beds with indigenous textiles and throw cushions;
• 50% larger marble bathroom designed around a hand-carved Roman-style bath centrepiece, with additional indoor-outdoor shower featuring an all-glass wall for natural light and garden views;
• Completely new furniture and fixtures, drapery, hardware and other decor;
• New indoor and outdoor furniture to enable more outdoor entertaining poolside, and a more comfortable in-Villa dining experience;
• New lighting, air-conditioning system, and 55-inch HD-TVs in living room and bedroom;
• Spacious walk-in wardrobe;
• Landscaping of garden and pool terrace area.
The Villas at AYANA Resort also include 38 one-bedroom Cliff Pool Villas with a more modern minimalist design, as well as 10 two-bedroom villas and the jewel in the crown: the three-bedroom AYANA Villa, the island’s most exclusive escape for a wedding, honeymoon or private event.

Couples enjoying a romantic escape or honeymoon can make the most of their hideaway with a floating brunch served in their pool, a magical sunset flower bath, romantic candle-light dinner, soul-balancing in-villa massage, or simply lazy days soaking up the sun and ocean views with no disturbances. Butlers certified annually by the Guild of Professional Butlers UK – the same organization that trains butlers for royalty and celebrities – take care of every whim with discreet, thoughtful service, while Personal Assistants are also available to plan a memorable holiday even before touch down at the airport. In addition, the signature “AYANA’s Little Luxuries” complimentary benefits are provided exclusively for all guests of The Villas at AYANA Resort to further enhance the experience, and include guaranteed sunset reservation at Rock Bar, Bali’s most spectacular venue for sundowners.

There is plenty on offer for guests who would like to explore the pleasures of AYANA Resort and Spa beyond their Villa. Indulge in an ultra-lavish treatment at Spa on the Rocks villas surrounded by the crystal waters of Jimbaran Bay, or release tension and sleep like a baby after a thalassotherapy session in the world’s largest Aquatonic Seawater Therapy Pool. Picnic at private Kubu Beach, laze around infinity-edged ocean-front pools, escape for a romantic dinner on AYANA’s private jetty, or get active with golf-putting, tennis, yoga and gym. Choose from 3 restaurants for breakfast and work your way around the various dining venues including the iconic Rock Bar and beach-front Kisik for a sunset seafood BBQ.

Canopy by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide’s new hotel brand that redefines the lifestyle hotel category, and Icelandair Hotels have unveiled plans for Canopy’s first hotel in Iceland’s vibrant capital – Reykjavik. “Canopy Reykjavik | City Centre” is expected to be the first hotel globally to open in the brand’s portfolio, which launched in October 2014.Canopy Reykjavik | City Centre is now under construction on Hverfisgata St, a thriving neighbourhood in the centre of the city. The hotel is slated to open in early 2016 with the brand’s thoughtfully local aesthetic, which includes an open, light lobby and relaxing public spaces. A rooftop bar and restaurant will serve drinks and food throughout the day, while guests can also visit a bistro, sampling fresh, local produce while taking in the city sights.

“In creating Canopy by Hilton, we focused heavily on customer research at every stage, and the result is a brand which redefines the lifestyle segment, and brings guests closer to the destinations and communities in which they travel,” said Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton. “Reykjavik is unlike any other city on Earth, and its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty align with the ethos of Canopy by Hilton. It is with considerable excitement that we anticipate the opening of Canopy Reykjavik | City Centre in 2016.”

Canopy Reykjavik | City Centre will welcome guests with 115 guest rooms and suites, will feature an entirely new interior, while sensitively retaining the buildings’ elegant facades, and preserving the important architectural integrity of the neighbourhood.

Wi-Fi and a local artisanal breakfast will be included in the room rate, along with a property-specific gift to welcome guests on arrival, helping ensure they get off to a positive stay in Reykjavik. As with all Canopy by Hilton hotels, Canopy Reykjavik | City Centre will be inspired and influenced by its local surroundings. Occupying an entire block of the prestigious Hverfisgata St, the hotel will provide guests with an opportunity to explore the city on foot.

The hotel will be operated by Icelandair Hotels, a subsidiary of Icelandair Group and a long term partner of Hilton Worldwide, having operated Hilton Reykjavik Nordica since it opened in 2007.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® has announced the launch of its game-changing Aloft brand in Buffalo, New York. The opening of Aloft Buffalo Airport also marks Starwood’s début in Buffalo and increases the company’s portfolio to six hotels in the greater Niagara region. Owned by Manga Hotels, the Aloft features 153 spacious, loft-like rooms, cutting-edge design and an energetic, social atmosphere – all at an affordable price point. Ideally located just ten minutes from the entrance of Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), the hotel is less than 15 minutes from restaurants, night clubs, art galleries and theatres in downtown Buffalo, and 30 minutes from Niagara Falls – one of world’s leading tourist attractions. Also nearby are the shops and restaurants at the Western Galleria Mall, Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo Museum of Science and First Niagara Centre.

The bright and airy guestrooms at Aloft Buffalo Airport feature the ultra-comfortable signature Aloft bed, Bliss® Bath amenities, a 42-inch LCD television and a plug & play station for electronics. In addition to the brand’s signature W XYZ bar, hotel amenities include Re:fuel by Aloft – a one-stop, grab-and-go food and beverage area, an indoor Splash pool, 24-hour fitness centre, 600 square feet of flexible meeting space, complimentary 24-hour airport shuttle and fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Resort®Jekyll Island hotel. The resort recently underwent a $22 million transformation funded by the ownership. The Holiday Inn Resort® brand portfolio, currently at 42 properties worldwide, experienced growth in the U.S. with both the opening of the Holiday Inn Resort Fort Walton Beach hotel and the signing of the Holiday Inn Resort-Pagosa Springs hotel in 2014.The three story property will have 157 guest rooms, including 21 suites. Guests can take advantage of complimentary Internet access, a quarter mile of private beach, a poolside lounge and access to numerous outdoor land- and sea-based activities including bike rentals, beach chair and umbrella rentals, paddle boarding and skim boarding. For families travelling with kids, the hotel offers a Kid’s Club with daily activities, and in the winter months, guests can enjoy the Snowbird Activities Program.

Located on scenic Jekyll Island, guests can enjoy local attractions including the Summer Waves Water Park, Jekyll Island Golf Course and the Georgia Sea Turtle Centre. Additionally, travellers can dine at various on-site restaurants including the poolside Rusty Anchor Bar and Grille, NorthShore Coffee & Cocktails and, opening late summer 2015, Beach House, the hotel’s signature restaurant that serves locally sourced seafood and coastal fare.

The Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island hotel is owned by Georgia Coast Holdings, LLC, and managed by NorthPointe Hospitality Management, LLC.

Scandic Hotels, the largest hotel operator in the Nordic countries, will open yet another large international hotel in the spring of 2018. The hotel, which will be located in the center of Copenhagen’s “meatpacking district” – Kødbyen – will be designed with the history and urban character of the area in mind and will provide a vibrant meeting place for both guests and Copenhageners alike.With 370 rooms planned, the new large hotel in Kødbyen will be a welcome addition to Copenhagen’s hotel market. The hotel will encompass a total of close to 15,500 m2 with 1,900 m2 designated for meeting and restaurant facilities.

The design of the hotel will be characterized by the area’s past industrial history blended with today’s lively atmosphere and pulse. The meeting spaces will also showcase creative solutions and avant-garde design.

– The new hotel in Kødbyen will be a unique international hotel for Copenhageners and guests alike. We intend to highlight the unique history of the area and create a hotel that will be a powerful addition to what is now the city’s most expansive area, says Frank Fiskers, President & CEO of Scandic Hotels.

The property owner of the new hotel in Kødbyen is KLP Ejendomme.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of its eco-wise Element brand in Doral, Florida, just minutes from downtown Miami. Element Miami Doral joins Aloft Miami Doral as part of a dual-branded Starwood hotel development owned by Eurocon, LLC. The new Element hotel features 139 stylish, light-filled rooms designed to fuel a life in balance and on the move. Element Miami Doral is the brand’s second hotel in the greater Miami area and one of eight new Element hotels slated to open worldwide by the end of 2015. “Element Miami Doral is a compelling new addition to our fast-growing Element portfolio, which is on track to triple within the next 24 months,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. “The new Element Miami Doral offers guests a bright, energizing environment that’s conducive to both work and play in close proximity to the city’s world-famous beaches, shopping and nightlife.”

“We are thrilled to open Element Miami Doral in close proximity to the city’s many offerings as well as Miami’s leading attractions and shopping destinations,” said Juan Quiroz, General Manager of the Element Miami Doral on behalf of Eurocon, LLC. “Element Miami Doral offers an entirely fresh perspective on the extended stay experience and caters to travelers who have a passion for clean, sustainable living.”

Element Hotels provide guests with space to live their lives, offering bright, modern design, green-minded sensibilities, and a reimagined extended stay experience – perfect for the traveler who is visiting for a few days or a few weeks. The eco-conscious and pet-friendly hotel offers spacious studios as well as one bedroom suites featuring a fluid design of modular furniture, swiveling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets. Rooms will also offer fully equipped kitchens, the signature Heavenly® Bed, and spa-inspired bathrooms with an invigorating rain shower and dual-flush toilet. Guests can fuel their day with the healthy Rise breakfast and wind down with the Relax evening wine reception – both complimentary. Staying on the move is easy with amenities such as complimentary bikes to borrow, a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center and the outdoor pool at the adjacent Aloft hotel. Fast & free WiFi is available throughout the hotel.

Following up as an “encore” to the first Bentley Suite at the St. Regis New York, visionary design firm Wimberly Interiors has unveiled its second Bentley Suite to coincide with the opening of the St. Regis Istanbul. Designed to reflect the balance of high performance and sport within a luxurious envelope, the Bentley Suite Istanbul is inspired by the legendary Bentley Continental GT. The suite incorporates Bentley details and finishes to create the ultimate experience for the luxury audience, and in particular, for connoisseurs of the Bentley brand. According to Liana Hawes Young, Lead Designer and Creative Director at Wimberly Interiors, the design team drew inspiration for the Bentley Suite from the St. Regis Glass House genre, positioning it with the Continental GT model. Both brands are hallmarks of performance and luxury, which translate seamlessly into a super suite. “Within the Bentley family, the Continental customer is an affluent and younger audience who responds to the ‘the luxury of spontaneity’. The vehicle itself has strong curves – sporty and sculpted elements throughout, that play beautifully with the modern architecture of the St. Regis Istanbul property”. In addition to Young, the Wimberly Interiors design team included Noel Cuvin, Creative Director; Marina Pulliam, Senior Designer; and Devon Dickerson, Designer.

Specific design elements begin the moment guests enter the Suite. The highly reflective entry, accented by mirrored ceilings and rich, lacquered walls of dark figured Eucalyptus, create a “jewel box” arrival moment. Many design details evoke the Bentley brand including a special light installation based on the Adenauer Forest section of the Nuremberg Track in Germany, where the Formula One Grand Prix is held, and where Bentley’s are test-driven. The fixture is made of a curved ribbed glass, inspired by the headlamps on the Continental GT. Each individual glass element creates a curve that mimics the curves in the track layout. There are numerous design elements inspired by Bentley details – however, care was taken throughout the design process to avoid overt use of the Bentley logo or specific branding elements. The goal for the design team was to create a beautiful space that some guests may associate with an enduring luxury marque of Bentley, while others will simply enjoy the timeless style and design of a living space that exemplifies the luxuriously modern St. Regis Hotel brand.

GROHE is delighted to announce its partnership with FOSTER, a leading premium Italian sink designer, pairing together two manufacturers dedicated to craftsmanship, quality and innovation, to create a complete solution for your kitchen tap and sink. The partnership fuses German engineering with Italian design, for high quality and stylish tap and sink solutions. GROHE understands that the tap and sink are two of the hardest-worked features of your kitchen and are selected for both functionality and style.

GROHE’s sophisticated award-winning kitchen mixer taps are made from the finest materials and feature the latest technologies – created to stand up to the daily demands of a busy kitchen. FOSTER’s sinks utilise high quality stainless steel and are more durable and deeper than industry standard for long lasting life. Now, GROHE and FOSTER’s partnership will deliver complete tap and sink solutions that offer functionality, luxury design and good looks without compromising on quality.

The partnership will offer a complete solution for your tap and sink with a perfectly matched design to ensure a coordinated look in your kitchen. Choose between flat-edge, under-mount and flush-mount sink designs with beautiful taps to complement. From the Red Dot Design awarded K7 mixer combined with the stunning New Wave sink with its unique waterfall rim, to the Ambi Cosmopolitan paired with the simple and functional Moon, German Technology and Italian Design combine to deliver all of your kitchen tap and sink needs.

RHA Furniture recently completed a project for the new Hilton at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton. RHA Furniture worked closely with Hilton Head Office, and Falconer Chester Hall, from the early stages of the project. Working with key project managers and designers to source furniture, finalise bespoke designs and confirm finish options.

Across all areas of this project, RHA Furniture custom made and supplied over 450 chairs and sofas, 200 tables, and produced some impressive items of bespoke furniture.

The main reception features bespoke high back sofas and chairs, alongside bespoke coffee tables and connectivity consoles all custom made by RHA Furniture.

RHA Furniture custom made an impressive oval work table, featuring an elegantly shaped top with high quality wood laminate top, built-in power & data points, cable management and adjustable glides.

Contact RHA Furniture for more information or to discuss custom made furniture for a project you are currently working on.

BMT Asia Pacific (BMT) has unveiled a coastal living concept that offers more than style and luxury: it promises hotel developers a flexible, readily deployable offering that provides an enthralling experience; able to be presented to discerning holidaymakers around the world.Entitled SeaScape, this concept of floating villas features clean lines and open air spaces, housed on a stylised triangular pontoon base. Each villa – or module – can exist standalone or as part of a larger integrated complex – modules simply connect together edge-to-edge, producing a number of possible arrangements.

“In the Hotel & Tourism space we know we need to offer not only a unique experience, but also competitive costs and feasible deployment and operation,” notes Richard Colwill, Managing Director of BMT Asia Pacific.

SeaScape is the new modular sister of Sea-Suite, a series of egg-shaped floating villas and beach cabins developed in 2013 by BMT. After noting interest in Sea-Suite from homeowners and developers across oceans, BMT evolved the SeaScape design, in part, to provide the solution to logistical challenges of long-distance shipping and installation at remote sites.

“Our new series of floating villas demonstrates that it is possible to offer exceptional luxury through a simple, yet elegant modular design,” says Mr Colwill.

And luxury it is. A key feature of SeaScape is a superb underwater bedroom. The 4m-diameter cylindrical room formed from high-grade acrylic can be installed within SeaScape, adding a unique resort experience in a market where the truly different is becoming harder and harder to realise.

SeaScape is also functional. Pre-fabricated parts can readily fit into standard shipping containers and allow for simpler and more cost-effective construction.

Leveraging BMT’s experience in naval architecture and offshore engineering, materials have been carefully chosen to ensure high quality fabrication and finish.

Mr Colwill comments: “We are very pleased to be introducing SeaScape to the luxury resort market. This addition to BMT’s Floating Villas portfolio offers even more options and flexibility to our customers to develop an unforgettable holiday experience for their guests.”

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, in collaboration with Ken Corporation and Ken Real Estate Lease, Ltd., have announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Naha, Okinawa—the first hotel under a Hyatt brand on the Japanese island of Okinawa. The hotel is the tenth hotel under a Hyatt brand in Japan, and it is the sixth Hyatt Regency hotel in the country, following Tokyo, Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka.Okinawa-inspired Interiors
The captivating décor at Hyatt Regency Naha, Okinawa celebrates its local culture. Adorning the interiors are soothing colorways highlighted with vibrant hues of red and blue. The hotel features carefully selected pottery and glassware inspired by rich Ryukyu culture, complemented by the convenience and comfort for which the Hyatt Regency brand is known.

Guestrooms with Views of the Naha Skyline
Hyatt Regency Naha, Okinawa is home to 294 guest rooms of eight different types, including 154 Deluxe Twin Rooms (344 square feet / 32 square meters) and nine luxurious Regency Executive Suites （688 square feet / 64 square meters). All guest rooms have been designed for both leisure and business, featuring a 40-inch flat-screen television with satellite programming, complimentary Wi-Fi, a coffee maker and complimentary mineral water. Standard guest rooms offer Pharmacopia natural and organic bath products from the U.S.,; Club Rooms and Suites provide body care products by exclusive, historic Italian brand Acca Kappa.

The generously appointed suites are designed to reflect the calming wind and water of Okinawa. The large, contemporary rooms feature subtle details inspired by traditional Ryukyu culture and come equipped with a spacious shower room, plush beds dressed in 300-threadcount linens and two 55-inch flat-screen TVs.

All Club Rooms and Suites offer access to the exclusive Regency Club lounge. Located on the uppermost 18th floor and featuring an outdoor terrace, guests can gather, work or relax over complimentary breakfast, drinks throughout the day and evening cocktails. Personalized check-in, check-out and evening service is also available.

Restaurants and Bars
Hyatt Regency Naha, Okinawa offers four inspiring restaurants and bars showcasing international cuisine with a focus on locally sourced ingredients of the highest quality.

Sakurazaka is the hotel’s relaxed dining space, serving buffet-style breakfast and lunch with an array of tempting local and international dishes. Guests can enjoy a relaxing meal in the stylish, light-filled setting or dine al fresco on the beautiful outdoor terrace.

Located on the uppermost 18th floor, MILANO | GRILL specializes in creative Italian and grilled cuisine. During dinner, a selection of meat and seafood is prepared in the show kitchen, while traditional trolleys present appetizers and mouthwatering grilled fare, served tableside.

Adjacent to MILANO | GRILL, guests can enjoy a pre-dinner drink at The Bar, complemented by panoramic night views of the Naha skyline. Featuring live piano performances, The Bar is an ideal spot to enjoy fine wines, carefully crafted cocktails and a wide variety of quality spirits. During the day, guests can look out to the Kerama Islands, and at dusk, enjoy a beautiful sunset over the East China Sea.

The glass encased open space on the first floor is The Lounge, offering quality coffees, teas, pastries and light snacks.

Meetings and Events
The Regency (882 square feet / 82 square meters with an 8.8 foot- / 2.7 meter-high ceiling) is a well-designed event space on the second floor, perfect for high-level board meetings, parties and cocktails for up to 50 guests. Equipped with the latest audiovisual capabilities, The Regency can be partitioned into two separate spaces (592 sq ft / 55 sqm and 290 sq ft / 55 sqm), making it ideal for intimate gatherings and parties.

Facilities
On the third floor of Hyatt Regency Naha, Okinawa is the first exclusive hotel fitness centre in Naha. The Fitness Gym is equipped with the latest TechnoGym machines and a personal yoga lesson is available upon request. After a good workout, guests can unwind in the whirlpool or take a dip in the 55-foot / 17-meter outdoor swimming pool. An adjacent shallow pool is perfect for younger guests. As a hotel that puts everything at guests’ fingertips, guests who’ve worked up an appetite will enjoy HY Deli for an assortment of goods, from daily necessities to sweets, cakes and cookies, and alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine.

The splendid Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel has undergone an extensive refurbishment transforming the listed Georgian hotel. The hotel, which is set in 12 acres of sweeping parkland, unveil its new look, following the second phase of its refurbishment, on 1st July, with a special event to launch the new look Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel.

The renovation includes the transformation of the historic hotel’s reception area as well as the redesign of the Lakeside Suite, designed specifically to cater for people looking for a unique wedding or event venue.

The second phase of the refurbishment comes after new beds with a Kayfoam King Koil mattress were implemented across all 72 bedrooms at the stately country hotel at the end of May.

The Lakeside Suite reflects the natural beauty of its surroundings decorated with soft shades of contemporary greys. The elegant lighting and luxurious textures make this stunning new suite the perfect space for dreamy weddings or extra special events, accommodating up to 180 guests. Newlyweds can delight in the wonderful country views and take advantage of the suite’s own private entrance and bar, as the hotel provides an idyllic romantic setting for their special day. There is also a state of the art sound system, fully air-conditioned space and private dining available.

Commenting on the refurbishment and relaunch, hotel General Manager Gavin Jones said: “We are delighted with this investment and were honoured that the Mayor of Gloucester cut the ribbon to officially relaunch the next chapter of the hotel’s story. We are very proud of the hotel’s heritage and the new design concept attributes to this, combining tradition with a contemporary edge.”

Shane Harris, CEO Jupiter Hotels, added: “The investment demonstrates our commitment to the growth and transformation of our portfolio in the UK. Our commitment to these hotels continues as we invest and support the development of key hotels across the UK. ”

Interior designer Helen Hooper of HH Interiors, who has previously worked with Jupiter Hotels on renovation projects across the UK, takes the lead. Helen explained, “We wanted to give the Lakeside Suite a complete refresh and open up the space so we’ve used soft dove greys and muted blues to help elevate this. The artwork is quirky and fresh with butterfly designs and floral used. The ceiling now has interchanging led lights to tailor the mood for any occasion.”

Mercure Gloucester Bowden Hall Hotel is located just three miles from Gloucester and the elegant house showcases exquisite views of its landscaped gardens.

Originally built as the private hideaway home of an Italian duchess on what is considered the most beautiful beach on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, the 29 room, suite and villa Hotel Esencia is located on a private 50 acre estate surrounded by the Mayan jungle. One of the only truly boutique luxury properties in the area, it was converted into a hotel in 2005 and in 2014 began a new journey when award-winning entrepreneur and art collector Kevin Wendle became owner. Since taking over, Wendle has undertaken a major refurbishment programme to enhance the hotel’s facilities, accentuate its natural beauty as well as add a truly one-off collection of art and antiques.

Located just 50 minutes from Cancun and 30 from Tulum, Esencia is full of character, charm and heritage. The Main House is the centerpiece of the hotel around which footpaths lead to the 29 suites and villas. There are also a two restaurants, a new beach bar, two large pools, juice bar and organic spa. Each room and suite boasts a private terrace and seating area with views of either the luxuriant gardens or the Caribbean Sea.

The handpicked collection of art and antiques within the hotel is one of the things that makes Esencia’s décor so unique. With Wendle’s desire to reimagine the property, came an entire collection of furniture designed specially for the hotel which, in addition to hand-woven rugs, bed throws and table tops, pay homage to mid-century Mexican and European art and design. Artwork by celebrated Spanish and Latin American artists decorates the walls including works by Pablo Picasso, Fernando Botero and Eduardo Santiere. There are Pierre Jeanneret chairs in the main sitting room along with lamps by Serge Mouille and Pierre Guariche. Public spaces are subtly filled with a music playlist conceived by Paris-based DJ Michel Gaubert while a new website has launched consisting of Pierre La Tan animations.

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May Highlights
• Happy days for Madrid and Prague hotels
• Challenging month for Berlin and Munich
• RevPAR flatters to deceive in Budapest

Dawnvale are proud to collaborate again with one of Living Ventures’ flagship restaurants and bars.Dawnvale have designed, manufactured and installed the new bar as well as providing all the necessary equipment to meet the ever growing demand of this successful city centre venture.

To discover how Dawnvale can assist with your next venture, please visit our website, here.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., has announced the opening of the Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West in Mesa, Arizona. Independently owned by Arizona hotelier Bob Yost, Sheraton Mesa offers 180 rooms, ample meeting facilities and all of the brand’s signature services and amenities. Sheraton Mesa Hotel at Wrigleyville West is located just 15 minutes from downtown Phoenix and eight miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Guests will enjoy convenient access to Scottsdale, Tempe and Downtown Phoenix, as well as complimentary airport shuttle transportation. The hotel is located adjacent to Sloan Park, the Chicago Cubs Spring Training facility, and within minutes of shopping, dining and entertainment at the popular Mesa Riverview, anchored by Bass Pro shop and Tempe Marketplace.

The hotel’s stylish and comfortable guest rooms are equipped with an oversized work desk, custom-designed ergonomic chair, high-speed Internet, LCD flat panel television, and the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed, designed to meet AAA’s Five Diamond Award® criteria. Sheraton Club guests will enjoy upgraded amenities, as well as complimentary daily breakfast, evening selection of premium beverages and hors d’oeuvres, and space for hosting a gathering with friends or colleagues in the Sheraton Club Lounge.

Sheraton Mesa features 34,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, a resort-style experience with two pools, two hot tubs and a cool dip pool, plus a pool bar and grill boasting 20 domestic and local craft beers on tap, and Sheraton’s signature wine program – Sheraton Selects. The hotel’s other dining experiences include an upscale steakhouse, casual sports bar-themed dining, and a full service Starbucks. The fully equipped fitness facility within Sheraton Mesa offers the brand’s health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness, Programmed by EXOS, and the adjacent full service spa offers five treatment rooms for massage, facial and body treatments.

To add a coastal theme to interiors, take a look at Gallery Direct’s new soft furnishings collection.The Land Ahoy cushion is exclusive woven tapestry with a luxury velvet reverse and piping detail. Team this with the Regatta Striped Throw, a soft and stylish throw featuring a coastal striped design and contrast Sherpa reverse for a cosy texture, and the Boardwalk Cushion, a classic yarn dyed textured stripe cushion offered in 4 sophisticated colours.

Other coordinating items are also available. Why not visit their website to see what else they have to offer?

For more information, please contact Gallery Direct via their website: www.gallerydirect.co.uk

Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hotel brand by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, has announced plans to open and operate a new hotel in the Design District of Dallas, Texas. Expected to open in 2018, the Dallas property will be managed by Virgin Hotels and developed by Dunhill Partners, Vinculum Partners and The Crosland GroupVirgin Hotels CEO, Raul Leal, commented, “We’re ecstatic to be a part of the new fabric of the Dallas Design District, and play a role in continuation of the neighbourhood’s growth. With chic stores, eclectic galleries and upscale restaurants, we expect Virgin Hotels Dallas to move into the neighbourhood seamlessly, as its aesthetic and offerings will attract the growing local creative class and business travellers that will call the Design District home.”

Virgin Hotels Dallas will be located on High Line Dr. and Turtle Creek Blvd., the heart of the Design District, and will feature over 200 Chambers including Grand Chamber Suites. The lifestyle hotel will offer multiple dining and drinking outlets, including the brand’s flagship space, The Commons Club, a rooftop terrace with a pool, gym and spa, plus numerous meeting spaces.

Virgin Hotels Dallas will be a new build located within the 33 acres that Developer Dunhill Partners and its founder, Bill Hutchinson, acquired in 2014. The hotel will be in good company as the district boasts world class furniture showrooms, avant-garde art galleries, museums, antique shops and an influx of buzz-worthy new restaurants and shopping.

“I could not have found a more perfect hotel for the Design District and everything it offers to the City of Dallas than Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels. It will be the heartbeat of the hottest entertainment district and the biggest jewel in our crown,” said Bill Hutchinson, President, Dunhill Partners. 



Tighter planning regulations in central Amsterdam will mean future hotel development will continue to be concentrated outside the city centre where properties in non-­tourist locations face particular challenges attracting guests. Despite this the city’s mix of leisure and business travellers means demand for hotels remains strong, with the sector seeing record growth in overnight stays in 2014 and double-­‐figure growth expected in 2015.

According to a new report on the Amsterdam hotel market by global hotel consultancy HVS, central hotels are performing well and the recent addition of a limited number of hotels is expected to put pressure on existing owners to renovate their properties, thereby raising the quality of the overall offer.

This performance growth has attracted significant interest from investors, demonstrated by an impressive hotel project pipeline. However, tight controls on city centre planning in the city means there have been only five new hotels in the past eight years and only two planned over the next three years.

Other than exceptional scheme perceived to add value to the hotel offer, no further city centre developments are likely to gain permission in the medium term.

“We expect the value of centrally located hotels to continue to increase, although there will also be new interest from investors in emerging locations outside the city centre,” commented report co-­author Nicole Perreten, consulting & valuation analyst with HVS. “However, some observers warn of an over-­supply in out-­of-­town locations, which are not intrinsically attractive to leisure guests.”

One sector showing particular growth in Amsterdam is that of limited service properties, with supply growing by 2%, demand by 7% and RevPAR rising 9% in 2014, compared with the previous year*.

However, this sector faces increasingly tough competition from the expanding number of hostels in the city, with some hostel brands offering better accommodation than traditional budget hotels. International hostel chains are expected to add an estimated 2,600 beds to the market this year, with over 1,000 coming on stream in 2017/8.

“With a robust reputation for attracting corporate, MICE and leisure travellers, Amsterdam has experienced healthy demand growth in recent years, and we see no reason for that to cease, although there are challenges when it comes to new development sites. This will be of benefit to hotels in more central locations in terms of value and demand,” added report co-­‐author Constance Biria.

Average hotel values in Amsterdam rose 8.6% in 2014, reaching €320,000 per room.

Sol Hotels & Resorts has launched its new lifestyle brand, Sol Beach House, with the opening of its Ibiza location in June 2015 for its first summer season.Situated on the beachfront near the beautiful bay of Santa Eulalia on the East Coast of the island, Sol Beach House Ibiza offers a chilled out haven for adults. Renovated this summer, the hotel has 239 rooms and suites each with a spacious terrace and magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea.

Sol Beach House hotels are designed for effortlessly stylish young adults who are looking for a relaxing, intimate and cultural experience. Guest rooms are modern and elegantly decorated with Ibiza-inspired interiors and beach-style rocking chairs, which perfectly complement the laid-back island atmosphere. Each room has been transformed with ensuite bathrooms and all the modern amenities, including free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

The hotel has two impressive pools with large terraces, sunbeds and Bali beds, set against the oceanfront. With two restaurants, Sol Shack Chiringuito pool bar and a buffet restaurant, guests can enjoy a delectable mixture of fresh Mediterranean and international cuisines with a local twist.

With its hippie-chic feel, Sol Beach House Ibiza offers guests the chance to ‘brunch in your bikini’ on the oceanfront overlooking the beautiful gardens. The buffet restaurant provides breakfast and dinner, with organic local specialities. The Sol Shack Chiringuito pool bar has a laid-back vibe, making it the perfect hideaway from the midday sun for a poolside lunch or snack. Open daily from 11am – midnight, guests can enjoy a range of tapas and Mediterranean dishes, including Carpaccio of Salt Codfish, Monkfish with Clams and Seasonal Fire Roasted Vegetable and Mushroom Platter. Open 6pm – midnight daily, guests can enjoy cocktails at The Lobby Bar and relax to live music, including acoustic sets, bossa nova beats and Ibiza chill out DJ sessions playing into the night.

To rejuvenate the body and soul, the hotel provides a Zen area. Designed to balance the positive and negative energies within your space, as well as within yourself, it will bring harmony to the senses, as well as tranquillity and wellbeing. The Zen area offers a range of classes and treatments, including Yoga, Pilates and Aquagym, as well as massages. A 24-hour fully equipped gym is also available for visitors looking for a more active holiday.

Relaunched in summer 2015 following a full rebrand, Sol Hotels & Resorts has created four signature concepts for leisure travellers: Sol House, Sol Beach House, Sol Hotels & Sol Katmandu Park & Resort. Earlier this year Meliá Hotels International sold seven of its largest resort hotels in Spain to a controlled affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group for €176 million, whilst retaining the management of the hotels. The partnership has invested approximately €30 million on renovations, to support the transformation of the Sol Hotels brand this summer, including Sol Beach House Ibiza.

Andre Gerondeau, Executive Vice President at Meliá Hotels International, said: “Sol Beach House is one of our new hotel concepts for adults following the complete relaunch of the Sol Hotels & Resorts brand this summer. The hotels are all in prime beachside locations, and Sol Beach House Ibiza is no exception with its spectacular oceanfront views overlooking Santa Eulalia Bay. The hotels are ideal for adults looking for a more relaxed and laid back holiday, which is modern with vintage touches. Sol Beach House allows guests to go with the flow, with no plans or schedules, and gives them the freedom to tailor their holiday, whether they are looking for a more chilled or active break.”

May Highlights
• West Midlands hotel market continues to shine
• RevPAR up but profits down in Brighton hotels…
• …Whereas profits stagnate in Nottingham

Forbes Group has added Monarque (here in Peridot colour) to the selection of fabrics in which its dining table covers, skirting and table runners can be supplied.The fabric, like all the materials in their range, is made from machine-washable polyester. Monarque’s textured weave works particularly well as a contrast to the minimalism of modern architectural interiors.

Table coverings, whether skirtings for buffets and coffee stations, restaurant skirtings for dining tables, or conference cloths for meeting rooms, can be one of the most painless ways of freshening up a venue. With no down-time for decorators, or the dreaded dust, it’s a breeze.

And whatever the atmosphere, Forbes will, from its 180 colour range, have something to suit. All of its table covers are made to measure and offer quick and effective way to dress restaurant tables.

For further information please contact us on 01568 616 638 or email your enquiry to info@forbesgroup.eu

The Mayor of London celebrated the success of British Hospitality in his speech at The Hospitality & Tourism Summit as London reclaimed the no.1 spot as the most visited city in the world. For the second year running, The BHA had partnered with ITN Productions to produce the annual news-style programme capturing the latest trends, issues, best practices and insights in the hospitality sector, which was premiered at The Summit.

Boris Johnson was interviewed by ITN Productions at The BHA Summit during which he claimed that despite uncertain times, it ‘wouldn’t make a bean of difference’ to the hospitality and tourism sector if the UK left the EU. He recognised the hospitality and tourism sector ‘as a massive income generator for this country’ that creates ‘great jobs’.

Meanwhile Nick Varney, CEO of Merlin Entertainment and Chair of the BHA at The BHA Summit on 30th June, claimed that the hospitality and tourism sector is not valued by the government. ‘We’ve got to bring to government at the highest level, by which I mean the Prime Minister and Chancellor, the obvious fact that this industry employs 3 million people.’

He called on the government for help to make UK tourism more competitive as the Euro weakens. Dermot King, newly announced Chairman of the Cut Tourism VAT campaign along with Ufi Ibrahim, Chief Executive of the BHA supported this by calling for more to be done in terms of cuts to VAT, in her opening remarks at the Summit, to level the playing field with other European countries. In the UK 20% is added in VAT compared to 10% in France. As hospitality is the 4th largest industry in the UK and 6th largest export industry, Varney said we need to ‘to build a strong domestic product’ which ‘provides opportunity, great training and great career development.’

The Department for Work and Pensions is collaborating with the British Hospitality Association to launch a new employment engagement scheme called ‘Hospitality Works’. Martin Brown, director of Work Services for Wales & Employers from the Department for Work and Pensions spoke to ITN Productions about the campaign which will be led by the BHA January 2016. He explained how ‘Hospitality Works’ will seek engagement of all jobcentres across UK in promoting hospitality as a career choice, and dispelling the myth that hospitality is just a summer job. Tracey Crouch, Minister for Tourism, was keen express the importance of hospitality and tourism and said that the government and industry need ‘to act in a collaborative way to ensure we can support each other for a strong future.’

ITN Productions filmed all of these interviews at the BHA Summit and produced the ‘Heart of Hospitality and Tourism’ programme. You can watch the interviews from the summit HERE.

Presented by Natasha Kaplinsky, the programme ‘The Heart of Hospitality and Tourism’, looks at the value of the hospitality industry in the UK. Highlights include the ministerial interviews filmed at the BHA Summit along with key leading figures within the industry. The programme also features sponsored editorial profiles on Brend Hotels, Onecall Hospitality, Johnson’s Apparel Master, Ecolab, Wedding dates, Gather & Gather, Las Iguanas, Thai Leisure Group, GLH Hotels, Zapper and Orderella to see what businesses are doing to innovate for the future. You can watch the full programme HERE

If you would like more information on ‘The Heart of Hospitality and Tourism’ or how you can be involved in next years’ programme please contact Simon Shelley, Head of Industry News at Simon.Shelley@ITN.co.uk

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to début in South Australia with the signing of Aloft Adelaide in the state capital. Owned by local developer, Sturt Land Pty Ltd, a joint venture between local construction group Tagara and Melbourne-based developer Colvid, the signing of Aloft Adelaide marks the Aloft brand’s, a vision of W Hotels, third property to enter the Australian market. Slated to open in early 2018, the new-build hotel will form the centrepiece of New Mayfield, a mixed-use development set to reinvigorate inner-city Adelaide. Located just 20 minutes away from Adelaide Airport at 43-69 Sturt Street, on the corner of Norman Street, Aloft Adelaide will feature 200 loft-like guestrooms. The hotel will also feature an indoor glass bottom rooftop pool, 24-hour fitness centre with a rooftop running track, and 500 square metres of flexible meeting space. Ideal for both large, business and intimate gatherings, the meeting space is complimented by a striking rooftop bar and lounge overlooking the city, underneath the cantilevered glass bottom pool. The Aloft brand’s signature W XYZSM bar will provide a buzzing, social spot for guests to sip on a cocktail while enjoying the hottest, up-and-coming music acts as part of the brand’s signature, ongoing music program, Live at Aloft Hotels. Alternative dining options include Re:fuel— a grab & go option— and a signature restaurant space.

Designed by architecture firm Woods Bagot and local landscape architects Oxigen, Aloft Adelaide will introduce a new age of design to Adelaide’s emerging hotel scene. The hotel will open as part of phase two of the New Mayfield development, that features an exciting mix of sustainably designed residential, retail and dining spaces, cycle-ways and an integrated village square with public art installations and water features.

“The New Mayfield project will form a vibrant, social space in the heart of Adelaide creating an ideal platform to showcase Starwood’s design-led Aloft brand. With an overall injection of AUD$300 million, this development is going to take urban design and living to new levels and Aloft Adelaide will be the jewel in the crown,” said David Bertram, Director of Sturt Land Pty Ltd.

He continues, “Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Sturt Land Pty Ltd share the same vision, to create a modern urban-influenced design which entices locals and visitors seeking a buzzing social scene in an unbeatable city location. We look forward to working with Starwood to make this a reality.”

The signing of Aloft Adelaide follows the recent announcement of the Aloft Sydney Pitt Street, slated to open in October 2016, and last year’s announcement of the Aloft Perth Rivervale, set to open early 2017. The Australian Aloft properties will add to the global growth and buzz for the leading-edge brand, with over 100 hotels worldwide since launching in 2008.

“Demand for Aloft is rapidly accelerating and the brand continues to aggressively expand as we near 100 hotels worldwide,” said Andrew Taylor, Director Acquisitions and Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Pacific. “We are experiencing growing interest from investors and developers in the Australian market, who are attracted to the brand’s DNA, which fills a void in the hospitality sector. No other brand caters to the evolving global traveller like the Aloft brand, with its distinct design, buzzing social scene and innovative, tech-forward offerings. We’re excited by its potential here in Australia.”

Meliá Hotels International has continued to grow its presence in China with the announcement of a new hotel in Shanghai; bringing the total number of properties in China to eight. The new Meliá Shanghai Hongqiao is part of the Lidoway project, developed by Golden United Group, which will become a major urban complex in Hongqiao featuring a wide range of commercial and entertainment facilities, dining outlets, alfresco areas and high-end residential villas.

Meliá Shanghai Hongqiao, scheduled to open in July 2016, will have 190 rooms, meeting rooms, two F&B outlets, as well as an executive lounge.

Hongqiao is expected to become the new centre of west Shanghai and the business hub for the Yangze River Delta region, with the area’s integration with the Hongqiao Transportation Hub (Airport & Railway). The hotel will be very close to the new National Convention and Exhibition Center (formerly the China Expo Exhibition Center), one of the world’s largest exhibition complexes, with a total floor space of 1.47 million square metres and capacity to accommodate up to 300,000 people per day.

As a key destination, the Hongqiao Airport handled 37,960,200 passengers in 2014 and grew by 21.3% in 2010, making it the fourth busiest airport in mainland China and the 21st busiest in the world. Hongqiao Railway station is also the largest railway station in Asia, with a total area of 1.3 million square metres.

The Asia – Pacific region has become one of the main strategic growth areas for Meliá Hotels International. The company highlighted its commitment to this region by opening a corporate hub in Shanghai in 2011, boosting awareness and improving the scope of partnerships with Chinese companies. Meliá Hotels International will continue to increase its presence in the China and Asia-pacific region following the launch of its first hotel in Shanghai.

The Viva Zafiro Alcudia & SPA opened its doors in June and sits in an unrivalled location, just 300m from the crystal-clear waters of Alcudia Bay and a few minutes from Alcanada’s world-class golf course. The Viva Zafiro Alcudia & SPA has 369 junior suites and suites, five restaurants, three bars, 10 swimming pools – including one indoors – aqua gym, gymnasium, spa and wellness centre, solarium, extensive gardens, and myriad sports facilities, both inside and out, with other sports available locally. And, close by, are the pleasant pedestrianised streets of Puerto de Alcudia, one of the oldest towns in Mallorca, where there is a wide selection of restaurants, bars and shops.

Alcanada’s 7,108-yard, Trent Jones Jr-designed golf course has won a steady stream of awards since opening 12 years ago. It was recently voted runner-up in the ‘favourite course in Europe’ category of leading German magazine Golf Journal’s annual Golf Travel Awards, for the second successive year, having previously attained the number-one spot for an unprecedented five years in a row.

Alcanada sits in a breathtaking location overlooking the Bay of Alcudia. Adjacent to the Mediterranean – the only course next the sea on the island – Alcanada, which opened in October 2003, blends naturally into the typical Mallorcan terrain and takes its name from an island with a lighthouse, situated just offshore, which can be seen from most of the holes.

Motel One, the budget design hotel chain, is showing no signs of slowing down with the announcement of their 2015 Q1 figures highlighting its impressive growth in the European Hospitality market. With new openings, an 11% increase in operating profit and accolades for employee happiness, the start of 2015 has been very positive for Motel One.Key highlights for Q1 2015;
• Winner of FOCUS Magazine “Best Employer” award
• New Motel One openings in London, Prague and Magdeburg, adding 582 to the hotel portfolio
• Sale of 9 first generation hotels
• 16% increase in overall capacity, reaching 12,664 rooms
• Revenue rises by 26% to 64 million Euros
• EBITDA rises to 16 million Euros
• Equity rises above 300 million Euros

2015 is gearing up to be yet another great year for Motel One with further expansions into the important UK hospitality market with the opening of Motel One Manchester-Piccadilly. The sale of 9 first generation hotels in peripheral locations represents the continuing investment in the Motel One brand, which has developed to focus on stylish city centre locations.

Aside from the financial figures, Motel One has added a new title to its growing list of awards by winning the “Best Employer” award within the SME category “Catering, Accommodation, Entertainment, Fitness and Tourism”. A poll taken by 70,000 German employees voting on development opportunities, salaries, the working environment and working hours recognised Motel One for its development and investment in all employees.

The Future for Motel One;
Aiming to increase their international presence means a further 20 hotels (6,531 rooms) are in the pipeline across Europe with the UK remaining a key market for investment. Eagerly awaited openings in Manchester, Amsterdam and Vienna before the end of 2015 are followed by exciting planned market launches in Spain and Switzerland.

ReardonSmith acted as Lead Design Consultant and Architect with responsibility for coordinating the refurbishment and remodelling of The Lanesborough. Working in close collaboration with the interior designers, Alberto Pinto agency, as well as with the specialist craftsmen and engineering consultants, ReardonSmith implemented the new design of the public areas and guestrooms so as to seamlessly integrate the operational and servicing requirements with the design and thus to facilitate the realisation of Alberto Pinto’s vision. ReardonSmith led the design in the refurbishment of back-of-house areas and the external envelope, including the specification of new thermally efficient roofs to enhance the environmental credentials of the building.The Lanesborough is recognised as a building of special architectural and historic interest and has a Grade ll* listed status. ReardonSmith was responsible for negotiating all planning and listed building consents and for maintaining close dialogue with English heritage and Westminster Conservation officers to ensure that the national asset was protected and enhanced.

Brief to the Architects
The objective was to re-affirm the position of The Lanesborough as London’s finest luxury hotel with a refurbishment of all public and guest areas as well as back-of-house.

Brief Development
The design team reviewed the hotel room-by-room and developed the brief in conjunction with the hotel operating team in order to prepare a detailed plan of what should be retained, rebuilt, restored, refurbished or replaced so as to meet the client’s aspiration. In an exercise involving complex coordination, issues of interior design, operational planning and service infrastructure were developed all in conjunction with one another so as to ensure the optimum guest experience.

Public Areas
The existing layout has remained largely untouched. However, minor changes were made to support the operational requirements of the hotel. These included the introduction of a pantry adjacent to the Withdrawing Room principally to serve afternoon tea, the reconfiguration of the business centre and store rooms to create a boardroom, the relocation of the concierge desk and a new cloakroom within the entrance lobby. Adjustments were also made to the back-of-house areas to more efficiently utilise the space and achieve an attractive and comfortable staff dining room.

The brief for the interiors was to align them with the Georgian origins of the building, adding modern and historical twists to provide an appropriately unique layering of styles, reflecting the graceful maturing nature of a functioning historic building. Elaborate decorative finishes, both new and restored, are skilfully integrated with modern energy-efficient LED lighting, A/C and technology systems.

The ceilings has been replaced throughout the public areas with highly decorative fibrous plaster, each room receiving its own unique design, crafted and refined to the satisfaction of Alberto Pinto. Central to ReardonSmith’s plan was the absolute concealment of all A/C grills and access panels, either hidden within the all-new wall and ceiling mouldings or behind resin panels designed to perfectly replicate the mouldings.

The Portuguese marble to the entrance lobby has been refurbished and, with rigorous attention to matching, extended throughout the public circulation areas. The stone panels on the walls have been revived and mirrors are now inset into the arched niches; elsewhere, new faux stone perfectly replicates the genuine stone walls. Throughout, what was previously dark mahogany panelling has been stripped back to reveal a warm, mid-toned timber, further refined in the Library Bar with the introduction of exquisite decorative panels which were hand-painted in Italy. The Royal Entrance has been transformed with trompe l’oeil painted walls and ceilings to create the appearance of fabric gathered to form an elaborate tented structure. Delicate marquetry panelling has been introduced to line the walls of the St. Georges Room. The Belgravia Room has been remodelled, opening it up into a single grand function room with antiqued Venetian fluted mirrored pilasters and hand-engraved mirrored crystal window pelmets displaying at their centre a crest which pays homage to the name of the room. Everywhere, the extraordinary vision of Alberto Pinto realised through the work of ReardonSmith and other members of the project team, is placing the Lanesborough interiors in a class of their own.

Apsleys restaurant has also been fully refitted to reflect the Georgian-inspired design brief with new hand-modelled frieze panels to match the new fibrous plaster ceilings. At the entrance to the restaurant, bespoke wine stores have been created to store the hotel’s large collection of fine wines.

The two original staircases have been retained and restored.

Guest Floors
A meticulous survey of the 94 guestrooms identified 12 broad groups of bedrooms in terms of size and distinguishing features, although the reality of the various configurations within each group meant that no room was exactly the same as another. There are now four guestroom design types and an increased number of inter-connecting rooms enabling large family groups to stay together. Each marble block for the new all-marble bathrooms was individually chosen and it was ReardonSmith’s task to ensure that each slab was set out for perfect book-matching. The Lanesborough Suite on the first floor has been retained and the Royal Suite on the second floor has been extended and refurbished to elevate it to be once again the pre-eminent suite within the hotel, complete with separate purlieus for husband and wife, each with a magnificent bedroom and bathroom. The suite can be opened up into adjoining rooms achieving a 250 sq metre residence that extends along the total length of the façade and comprises four living rooms and seven bedrooms and bathrooms. Both suites overlook Hyde Park Corner.

The absolute insistence on concealing the ‘behind-the-scenes’ from guests continues across the bedroom floors. The access panel in the bathrooms, for example, has been skilfully hidden behind the book-matched marble clad door on which the heated towel rail is mounted.

Guest floor corridor ceilings were all replaced to permit an entirely new services infrastructure for the rooms.

“We were very conscious of The Lanesborough’s exceptional pedigree and worldwide reputation in every decision we took and each line that we drew. The implementation on-site of Alberto Pinto’s exquisite new interior design has truly been of the highest quality and the synergy of traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering has ensured that the hotel’s unique place amongst London’s luxury hotels is assured for years to come.” Conrad Smith, Managing Director, ReardonSmith Architects.

Vaughan lights have been used throughout the hotel in both bedrooms and common parts. The ranges include: Totnes Bathroom Tube Swing Arm, Globular Sang de Boeuf Vase, French Glass Lamp and our Red & Blue Imari Vase.

Following a £20m complete top to toe refurbishment The Bellhouse Hotel will officially open its doors as the Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross Hotel this Autumn 2015.Having been inaugurated into the Crowne Plaza portfolio the hotel promises to deliver the quality and trusted service synonymous with the Crowne Plaza brand but with a very distinct identity.

Described as “a celebration of both town & country” the 138-bedroomed four-star hotel, spa and events centre is set at the base of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty and is just 17mins from the centre of London providing the ideal weekend retreat for city dwellers seeking an escape, or business trip base.

The Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross will boast an impressive list of individual parts adding up to one unforgettable experience.

In-keeping with the hotel’s rich automotive history, BMW Group company Designworks have been commissioned to create the concept behind the meeting and events space; a first for a branded hotel. Providing the perfect venue for weddings, conferences or events, this 6500sqm ‘styled with substance’ space will feature two large conference and banqueting spaces seating up to 350 and 260 persons respectively, 6 meeting rooms, Creative Attic, breakout bar and landscaped garden.

1269; the year the neighbouring town of Beaconsfield was first given a charter allowing an annual market for trading livestock, will also provide the name and inspiration for the hotel’s destination bar and restaurant. 1269 Restaurant & Bar will specialise in livestock, game and butcher-style preparation. Designed by SuperFutures, the team behind Chotto Matte and Barrafina, the statement pieces of the restaurant will be a freshly hung meat display, a Whisky vault and a bourbon focused drinks menu to rival any London bar.

Wave Spa and Wellness Centre offers a relaxing and rejuvenating retreat with 15m pool, sauna, steam room and 5 treatment rooms including a Rasul™ Mud Therapy room. Re-energise and cleanse from the inside out at Wave Juice Bar where the menu is based on the philosophy of healthy, nutritious and balanced tastes offering the “best of what nature has”. Choose from the finest hand-crafted organic juices, freshly made immune boosting shots and energy rich food.

The 138 bedrooms are spacious with contemporary furnishings and luxury touches such as complimentary mini bars, Espa toiletries and LED Smart TVs. The décor contrasts bright blocks of uplifting orange, with warm walnut wood, crisp, white inviting bed linen and classic, stylish textured herringbone throws.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Makkah in the holy city of Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) under a management agreement with Jabal Omar Development Company. The opening of Hyatt Regency Makkah marks the first hotel under a Hyatt brand to open in Makkah and the first Hyatt Regency-branded hotel to open in the KSA. A second Hyatt Regency hotel, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, is expected to open in 2016.Connecting travellers to who and what matters most, Hyatt Regency Makkah is located in the heart of the city. It is a one-minute walk to the holiest shrine of Islam – Al Masjid Al Haram or the Sacred Mosque – and close to several religious sites such as Mount Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina. Pilgrims visit these sites each year for Hajj, the largest pilgrimage in the world, and during the month of Ramadan.

Hyatt Regency Makkah is part of a mixed-use development built up of more than 2 million square meters (21,527,820 square feet). The hotel offers 656 guestrooms – including 26 suites spanning 19 floors that range in size from 38 to 190 square meters (409 to 2045 square feet) with a Royal Suite on the 18th floor that overlooks Al Masjid Al Haram. All rooms offer rich textures, designer décor and fine contemporary furnishings, as well as the latest services and facilities. Each guestroom has been thoughtfully designed for the fulfilment of religious duties. Panoramic views of the city are enhanced by natural lighting, which permeates the hotel.

Regency Club
Guests looking for exclusivity and an array of additional amenities will enjoy the Hyatt Regency brand’s ‘hotel within a hotel’ concept – the Regency Club™ All club rooms are secluded on the 15th to 19th floors of the hotel. The Regency Club lounge offers exclusive services for guests, including complimentary meeting rooms, continental breakfast, afternoon tea and evening beverages with hors d’oeuvres.

Restaurants & Lounges
Hyatt Regency Makkah features a wide range of culinary experiences worth sharing that meet guests’ diverse needs and preferences. The hotel offers The Oasis, an all-day dining restaurant; Al Forno, an Italian restaurant; Tea Lounge, the lobby lounge; and Al Tekkeya; a grab-and-go market offering guests quick and high quality meals. For added flexibility and convenience, the hotel also provides 24-hour in-room dining service.

The Luxury Collection® has recently announced, in coordination with its owner partners, a $300 million effort to expand and improve its hotel portfolio in North America. Marquee Conversions Drive Expansion in North America
With an uptick in U.S. luxury travel, The Luxury Collection is using conversion opportunities to expand its portfolio in North America. Most recently, the brand welcomed Sunset Key, a private island with 40 luxury cottages nestled off the coast of Key West, in addition to signing Conrad Chicago, which is slated to join The Luxury Collection with a new name following its renovation this fall.

Later this year, The St. Anthony, Texas’s crown jewel in San Antonio, will officially reemerge after a multi-million dollar restoration that reflects the hotel’s enduring legacy while infusing a modern allure. In December, the legendary Cal Neva resort, situated on Lake Tahoe, will debut as part of The Luxury Collection after a complete renovation that will bring the glamour of the Rat Pack era back to the hotel. The brand will also make its long-awaited arrival in Napa Valley’s idyllic St. Helena in January 2016 with the opening of Las Alcobas, following a multi-million dollar transformation that will restore the historic Acacia House and add several contemporary multi-room cottages overlooking the vineyards.

Landmark Renovations Reimagine Legendary Hotels
As The Luxury Collection expands, the brand is also focused on restoring its existing hotels in North America. The Royal Hawaiian, known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific, recently unveiled its enhanced Mailani Beach Tower, offering a private haven in the epicentre of Waikiki Beach. Later this summer, Hotel Ivy in Minneapolis will conclude a comprehensive renovation of the hotel, including a new restaurant concept; and in September, San Francisco’s iconic Palace Hotel will reveal a striking, all-encompassing restoration, featuring redesigned guestrooms, suites, and public spaces as well as a renewed Garden Court. Early 2016, The Liberty, one of Boston’s most celebrated landmarks, will début all new designs for its 298 guestrooms. Rounding out the renovations, The Phoenician, The Luxury Collection’s renowned resort located at the base of Camelback Mountain, will unveil a complete redesign next year of all its guestrooms and public spaces.

The investment in The Luxury Collection’s portfolio in North America follows a successful $500 million restoration program to breathe new life into some of brand’s most iconic European hotels. Over the past three years, hotels including the Gritti Palace in Venice, Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, Prince de Galles in Paris and Hotel Imperial in Vienna, were brought back to their original splendour.