Hotel Designs

The InterContinental New York Barclay is now closed to commence the $175 million renovation, previously announced on 19 December 2013. The hotel recently checked out its last guest in preparation for the 18-month refurbishment. “We are delighted to work with our partners, Constellation Barclay Holding US LLC, to manage the extensive renovation of our classic New York hotel,” said Hervé Houdré, regional director of operations and general manager of the InterContinental New York Barclay hotel. “The result will be the rebirth of a luxury hotel that reflects its elegance and architectural grandeur, as well as the classic taste and style of its sophisticated, international neighborhood.”
First opened in 1926, the hotel is located right in the heart of Manhattan and a short walk from Park Avenue, Madison Avenue and the United Nations building. The iconic InterContinental New York Barclay has been the hotel of choice, and sometimes residence, for politicians, cultural influencers and other prominent figures throughout the decades, including U.S. presidents, author Ernest Hemingway, ambassador and renowned hostess Perle Mesta, and civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The hotel’s new design ‒ developed with the assistance of architecture firm Stonehill + Taylor and interior designers HOK (formerly BBGM) ‒ will completely revitalize the Federalist-style property, maintaining its heritage, while updating it to cater to the needs of today’s discerning international traveler. The design will reflect the distinctive culture of its location, while offering the luxury and consistency that InterContinental guests worldwide expect from their preferred brand. On completion, the property will feature approximately 700 guestrooms, a new InterContinental® Club Lounge and a fully refurbished lobby with a new Gin bar and restaurant. The hotel also will continue to serve as an outstanding venue for memorable corporate meetings through the InterContinental® Meetings platform, as well as for social events in either of the two elegant ballrooms. The enhanced hotel experience will be brought to life by the hotel’s world-class employees and concierge team who offer intuitive service and expert “Insider Knowledge” of the city.

Inspired by designs from the 1960s, the distinctive Bullet desk lamp by Chelsom exudes retro chic that would look at home in any interior. Available as part of a wider collection of coordinated wall and floor lighting, the Bullet range features a torpedo shaped head with swivel joint for multi directional LED light and decorative ventilation holes to allow optimum light spill while warm white light emits through an opaque acrylic diffuser. Adjustable arms with decorative toothed swivel joint and locking key enable secure arm positioning and a colour coordinated metal push switch is housed in the base.

Bullet is available in three different colour finishes including a soft Ivory and Chrome combination as pictured, one of the striking new additions to Chelsom’s range of finishes adding a contemporary twist to the piece.

Agua Fabrics are delighted to showcase new fabric collections and colourways at the prestigious Sleep Event, The Business Design Centre in London.This years event sees the launch of the Sark Upholstery Fabric Collection. Unbelievably soft with a velvety feel, the Sark collection is made up of 16 alluring colours from a warm mauve and wine to the cool yet striking tones of zest and sky. The integration of a subtle two tone effect is certain to appeal to Designers, Specifiers and Operators looking to bring style and sophistication to seating and headboard projects within contract environments.

In addition, Agua is introducing 2 stunning new designs, Atlas & Gems, to the Mystique collection of metallic faux leathers. An antique look with a metallic finish for the Atlas design and a dramatic kaleidoscope effect for the Gems offers the chance to create a special finish for all upholstery projects whether it be for seating, upholstered panelling or headboards.

Further colourways have been added to the Aries and Lunar faux leather collections, increasing the colour palette to an incredible 140 options; this makes the Agua faux leathers one of the largest collections currently available to the commercial sector in the UK. New colours and patterns are currently under development to make the offering even wider to meet the changing trends in style and fashion.

The soft fabrics are not being ignored either with new colourways being added to the phenomenally successful Agua Juno, Libra and Linetta collections. As the benefits of technical fabrics to the hospitality sector become more apparent, the Agua collections are finding their way onto major projects within hotel bedroom schemes and public areas – a win win situation for Designers and Operators alike.

Agua invites you to visit stand M24B at The Sleep Event to meet the team, experience the fabric collections first hand and network with other industry colleagues.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Tsemex Hotels and Business Plc to develop Crowne Plaza Addis Ababa. The 210-key hotel represents the entry of IHG into Ethiopia and adds to the company’s growing presence in Africa.Crowne Plaza Addis Ababa is situated near significant landmarks including the African Union headquarters, African Union Convention Centre, the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Convention Centre. It is also located close to one of the largest international communities in the city. The new hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant and a bar. Guests can enjoy facilities such as the health club and spa, or kick back with a drink at the bar by the swimming pool.

Catering to the business traveller, Crowne Plaza Addis Ababa will also offer a range of meeting facilities including a boardroom, seven large meeting rooms as well as ballroom for larger events. A business centre is also available for guests who require access to business facilities on the go.

Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG, said: “Addis Ababa is evolving at pace, with infrastructure such as the Bole International Airport now serving almost 20 million passengers a year. We’re always on the lookout for the right partner to grow our brands in the right location. Now we’re bringing Crowne Plaza to a new country with Tsemex Hotels and Business Plc. Crowne Plaza Addis Ababa is a strong addition to the brand and with this being our first hotel in Ethiopia we will now have a presence in 13 countries across Africa.”

Mr. Rezene Ayalew, Managing Director, Tsemex Hotels and Business Plc, said: “We own a number of real estate developments but with this being our first venture into hospitality, we couldn’t have asked for a better partner to embark on this project with. Addis Ababa has great potential for tourism but is currently under-supplied in catering to business travellers and meetings and events. The Crowne Plaza brand comes highly recommended with a unique positioning for the business market and we believe this is the right brand to bring into our vibrant city.”

IHG currently has 29 hotels open on the continent of Africa across five brands: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. The new development marks the sixth Crowne Plaza hotel in Africa. Across Asia, Middle East and Africa there are 68 Crowne Plaza hotels and resorts totalling more than 19,000 rooms, with an additional 16 due to open in the next three to five years.

Whether at home or at work, we usually take the ability to flick a switch and light up our surroundings for granted. Few people even realise that the UK lighting market is steadily growing and is expected to reach £3.1 billion during 2014 or that its supply chain supports 1700 companies. On a slightly less upbeat note over 62% of the demand for lighting in the UK is satisfied by imports, making companies like Dernier & Hamlyn an increasing rarity. Established in 1888, London based Dernier & Hamlyn has been manufacturing lighting for over 125 years. Its fittings can be seen in luxury homes, restaurants, hotels, palaces and cathedrals all over the world. The company holds a Royal Warrant for the manufacture and restoration of bespoke lighting and is chosen by leading lighting designers and their clients when they want lighting that is of the highest quality, is made by skilled craftsmen and is informed by Dernier & Hamlyn’s in-house lighting archive, which is believed to be one of the largest available.One such client is Corbin & King, creators of some of London’s most iconic and best-loved restaurants, who are also behind The Beaumont, the new hotel in Mayfair. Dernier & Hamlyn has produced bespoke lighting for three of Corbin & King’s properties – Brasserie Zédel, Fischer’s and The Beaumont. Each of these projects has been challenging in its own way and has resulted in fantastic lighting that is integral to the locations’ ambience, enabled by Dernier & Hamlyn’s passionate obsession for quality and attention to detail.

Brasserie Zédel was the first project where Dernier & Hamlyn manufactured lighting for a Corbin & King restaurant. Working closely with The Conservation Architects, Donald Insall Associates, they painstakingly restored and produced new historically accurate lighting. This grand Parisian brasserie was formerly the Atlantic Bar and Grill in the Regent Palace Hotel beloved of the pretty young things of the 1930s. Under the direction of the Crown Estate it was restored to its former glory as part of the Quadrant 3 development, Europe’s most sustainable building. Three large oval lights made of cast aluminium and glass and eight u-shaped fittings required extensive renovation. Over the years various glass panels had been replaced leaving a mishmash of styles and designs which were removed and replaced, although they have been stored for heritage recording purposes.

In order to replace the glass sections Dernier & Hamlyn first had to make a variety of straight and curved moulds to produce the various sizes and types of glass panels required which were then installed in the restaurant. During restoration it was also discovered that formerly beautiful mirrored columns had been plastered over. Dernier & Hamlyn’s craftsmen carefully removed this aberration and refurbished the mirrors to their original peach shading to reflect and complement the restaurant’s updated historic lighting. Therefore, when Corbin & King occupied the space the lighting was suitable for both the environment and the atmosphere. A more recent addition to Corbin & King’s portfolio is Fischer’s, in Marylebone High Street whose lighting demanded many of the varied skills that the Dernier & Hamlyn team possesses. Styled as an early 20th century Viennese café, interior design at Fischer’s was by Brady Williams who brought their unique style to this very interesting project. Bar lights integrated with shelving combined form and function in the distinctive lighting that turned designer Shayne Brady Of BradyWilliams’ initial concepts into beautiful reality.

In its most recent collaboration with Corbin & King, Dernier & Hamlyn has manufactured beautiful art deco chandeliers for The Beaumont, Jeremy King and Chris Corbin’s first hotel.

A statement, grand fitting has been produced for the hotel’s entrance. Cast in brass and finished in antique bronze, it is dressed with custom made glass rods. A smaller version has also been made at Dernier & Hamlyn’s London factory and installed in the main lobby. Throughout the main public areas, including lobbies and stairwells, Dernier & Hamlyn has also produced feature pendants that include handmade cast glass panels that feature chevrons and have been sand blasted to emulate typical art deco styling.

Jeremy King says:
“We select our suppliers carefully and seek out companies that share our values, which focus on honesty, integrity and continual improvement. Dernier & Hamlyn has a similar approach. Therefore when it comes to bespoke lighting for our properties we choose D&H primarily for its reputation for quality, attention to detail and its business ethics.”

Vaughan are exhibiting for the first time at the Independent Hotel Show at Olympia on 21st and 22nd October – Stand 140. The Vaughan’s stand is designed with a beautiful backdrop of Petalas embroidered linen and a hand-picked selection of lighting, furniture and textiles from the Vaughan collection.

The all-new 2014/15 Vaughan catalogues will also be available to view. The three new catalogues incorporate new products and stunning lifestyle photography in easy-to-read, bound books.

Volume 1 contains the entire Wall Light collection, Volume 2 the Ceiling Light collection and Volume 3 the Floor & Table Lamp collection.

Idyllically located on a tiny private island in the jewel-like Quirimbas Archipelago off the northern coast of Mozambique, Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort & Spa offers a paradise escape that is naturally exclusive. Just one kilometre long and 300 metres wide, the 12-villa resort combines sophisticated simplicity with unrivalled hospitality. Medjumbe Island is reached by a 45 minute scenic light aircraft transfer from Pemba International Airport on the mainland, which is accessible from Mozambique’s capital Maputo or by international flights from Johannesburg or Dar es Salaam.

Currently being considered for World Heritage Site status, the Quirimbas Archipelago is undoubtedly Mozambique’s best-kept secret – a 250 kilometre string of tropical islands that are both marine wonderland and historical melting pot. Environmentally pristine, the archipelago’s 32 islands are surrounded by dazzling coral reefs and a wealth of untouched marine life. Within its waters, the 1,500 square kilometre Quirimbas National Park provides sanctuary for sea turtles, dolphins and whales, as well as tropical and game fish.

A boutique collection of 12 thatched Beach Pool Villas line a postcard perfect beach and reveal panoramic Indian Ocean views. With direct beach access, a private pool and hammock, the charmingly furnished interiors blend comfortable luxury with Anantara’s signature modern amenities to offer the ultimate tropical island retreat.

Guest areas are stylish and understated, designed to provide the privacy that guests are seeking – whether lazing around the pool, sipping cocktails in the tropical bar area, or relaxing in the informal Bahari Lounge Bar whilst enjoying the mesmerising views.

At a resort that feels miles away from the rest of the world, chefs dish up the kind of culinary diversity that promises to entice and satisfy. From local specialties to refined western classics, the Jahazi Restaurant serves guests with endless highlights of delectable seafood feasts and mouthwatering indulgence.

The Anantara Spa is a private retreat featuring a treatment suite and en-suite bathroom, where intuitive hands pamper guests with an enticing spa menu encompassing the most revered eastern and western techniques.

Marriott International, Africa’s largest hotel company following its strategic acquisition of Protea Hotel Group, continues to gather momentum with a packed schedule of 30 property openings across the continent by 2020, 9 of which will open by end of 2015.“The potential of the African market is awe inspiring and only really matched by the extraordinary people and places we encounter every day as our brands puts down roots across the continent,” Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Marriott International Middle East and Africa said. “Over the next few years we plan to expand our presence even further from 10 countries to 17 with a capital investment by Marriott’s real estate partners of $1.5 billion across the continent. With it, we will create jobs and support local communities because our success is only ever possible through strong bonds of friendship, trust and cooperation in the markets we inhabit.”

With a strong eye on the extended stay segment a new Residence Inn by Marriott Kampala Kololo has just been signed, bringing the total property count under the Protea Hotels and Residence Inn brands in Uganda alone to three. A raft of further openings will follow in 2015 across the continent with openings in South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda, as well as Marriott International’s first properties in Ethiopia, Ghana and Rwanda.

Marriott Executive Apartments Addis Ababa, owned by Sunshine Business plc, will be the first property under the extended stay brand to open in Africa. With 104 units, located at the financial district, close to the UN Headquarters and Addis Ababa Stadium, Marriott Executive Apartments is designed for the international traveler and executive expat seeking luxurious apartment living with hotel services.

By 2020, in Africa, Marriott International is set to go from 120 properties, 14,000 rooms across 10 markets, to 150 properties with 19,000 rooms across 17 markets. As a result, the company which currently employs 21,000 associates across Africa will see its work-force increase by 10,000. “The fundamental demand generators that drive our industry are alive and well on this continent,” continued Kyriakidis. “Marriott International’s investment into this region represents the economic realisation for the need for hotels – countries need to invest in infrastructure, accommodation and airports to create jobs to grow the economy. In tangible terms, these planned hotels will create sustainable local jobs.

“We have achieved a great deal in a short period of time but I firmly believe this is just the start of the Marriott International story in Africa.”

The romantic Mystic collection from KOBE Fabrics mixes contemporary and classic interior design fabrics inspired by the mysterious Gothic style period. The collection features rich velvets, innovative 3D jacquards, lace looks and printed burn outs, suitable for window decoration, upholstery and contract wallcoverings.

Designed to capture the very essence of the Gothic period, heavily embroidered fabrics are contrasted against a sheer, contrasting palette of blush pinks and neutral tones.

Said David Harris, managing director of Kobe UK: “Kobe has a unique story-telling and concept selling for every collection which we support with concept books, digital imagery and brochures.

“The Mystic collection is very much in vogue, as the latest home interior trends nod towards the classical period.”

Kobe UK, is part of the Dutch-based Kobefab International company which supplies more than 8,000 Interior Design & Soft Furnishing customers in over 60 countries with more than 7,000 products from its headquarters in Valkenswaard , Holland. More than 90% of its products are developed in-house and 95% of all sourcing is done in Europe. Kobe’s Contract Sales hold a gold membership with Trevira CS and has a wide range of 100% Trevira CS fabrics – which are Oekoteks 100 certified and are regarded as the highest quality in FR inherent fabrics. Kobe’s vinyl wall coverings are also FR inherent, durable and demand minimal maintenance. They contain recycled materials and are printed using water based inks making them environmentally sound. Kobe wallcoverings can also contribute to a building achieving LEED credits.

The Kobe UK sales office and studio is based in Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Kobe will be introducing its Aurora Collection at:

Sleep 2014, Hotel Show, 26-27th November, Business Design Centre, London. Stand M32

For further information visit: www.en.kobe.eu

Elegant and practical, the NEW FLEX 9 chair from Style Seating is sure to be our best-selling chairs. With superior comfort and designed to be ergonomically correct, the contoured flex back with lumbar support is perfect for meeting rooms, ballrooms and other conference needs.

Flex 9 also stacks eight high for ease of storage.

“The sexiest hotel in Europe”…. that’s how Robin Sheppard, Chairman of Bespoke Hotel group describes the multimillion pound transformation of Lutyen’s iconic 100 King Street building.Hotel Gotham is really taking shape now. Squid Inc’s vision, driven by Oliver Redfern, is being made real by Marshall’s Construction. Everything is on track to deliver an exceptional and glamorous hotel, in a beautiful historic building.

Style Matters bespoke furniture has been included throughout – from reception feature seating to luxurious banquettes, chaises, lounge chairs and ottomans – the natural choice for this unique, bespoke vision.

The effortlessly beautiful building will feature 60 deluxe bedrooms, a private members’ bar and rooftop garden. Bespoke bar stools and fixed seating in beautifully antiqued leather give the feel of easy-going and accessible glamour required in this perfect backdrop.

A rooftop restaurant with panoramic views across the city features art deco framed chairs with brass detailing and deep polished finishes.

A key feature of the hotel will be four exotically themed suites with private “indoor gardens”. Here you will find sumptuous, comfortable “Bloomsbury” armchairs, an ebony finished Director’s chair and beds adorned with deep buttoned feature headboards.

KEEP WATCHING AS THE STORY UNFOLDS… OPENS SPRING 2015.

Style Matters – proudly working with Squid Inc for Bespoke Hotels.

A Sydney-based property developer is set to launch a glittering new tower in the heart of the city. After much anticipation, Crown Group has announced its new $250-million tower Sydney by Crown will launch this spring and is set to be the only new apartment building in the central business district (CBD) to be launched and begin sales before the end of the year. Sydney by Crown will also be home to a collection of Crown Group’s boutique serviced apartments.

Crown Group today revealed highly-guarded architectural elements of the landmark 220-apartment development at 161 Clarence Street in the CBD.

Designed by internationally renowned Koichi Takada Architects and chosen from a selection of world-class designs during an international design competition, the 25-storey building will feature heritage-inspired lower levels transitioning to a modern glass-and-steel tower, capped with more than a dozen steel arches.

The unique arches will envelope the tower’s rooftop bar and garden, forming a striking addition to Sydney’s skyline.

Lower levels will include an eight-storey cathedral-like atrium rising 20-metres above street level over a new public laneway between Kent and Clarence Streets incorporating historic Skittle Lane.

The tower will be within walking distance to Sydney’s new waterfront precinct at Barangaroo, new Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wynyard station and Darling Harbour.

Construction is scheduled for completion in 2017.

Crown Group CEO Iwan Sunito said Sydney by Crown would become one of Sydney’s architectural centerpieces and a globally recognized icon.

Sydney by Crown will also be home to a collection of Crown Group’s boutique serviced apartments.

“Sydney by Crown’s innovative design created by Koichi Takada sets a new architectural benchmark for Sydney. We are proud to be able to deliver a truly iconic building in this emerging global city, Mr Sunito said.

“The location of Sydney by Crown in the heart of the city and also walking distance to tourist hotspots such as the Sydney Opera House, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour is exceptional.

“Crown Group had clear vision to create a building which reflected the international, forward-thinking nature of Sydney,” Mr Sunito said.

“Sydney by Crown will be unlike anything seen before in Sydney.”

After taking out the state’s top urban concept design awards in 2013 and 2014, Crown Group was flooded with enquiries after Sydney by Crown registrations of interest opened earlier this year.

Crown Group has received a host of awards in recent years including UDIA NSW Concept Design Award 2013 and 2014, UDIA High Density Development award 2013, UDIA NSW President’s award 2013 and a Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing Award 2013.

At ground-level residents will have access to health and fitness facilities including a pool and gymnasium.

Sydney by Crown’s spectacular rooftop will feature water features and greenery as well as a rooftop bar open to residents and guests.

Crown Group revealed a completed marketing suite showcasing the exciting resident’s facilities and apartment styles will open alongside the company’s head office at 1 Market Street Sydney in early November.

Apartment sales will begin at the launch on November 22.

“The building’s unique architecture and premium location has attracted strong interest from both investors and owner occupiers,” Mr. Sparkes said.

“The spectacular design with its rooftop arches and eight-storey atrium sets it apart from other residential buildings in Sydney.”

Earlier this year Sydney was ranked the world’s most livable city by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) in its annual Cities of Opportunity study.

The report compares 30 cities around the world across six variables to measure liveability; cultural vibrancy, quality of living, working age population, traffic congestion, ease of commute, and relocation attractiveness.

“Sydney is the most exciting city in the world to live in for countless reasons,” CEO Iwan Sunito said.

“International investors and global funds are increasingly recognizing the potential of Sydney.

“Sydney by Crown capitalizes on Sydney’s best assets, situated close to shops, transportation, parks, Sydney harbour and universities, and allows residents and guests to take full advantage of Sydney’s lifestyle.”

The PwC report highlighted the incredible quality of life Sydney affords its inhabitants, stating ‘(Sydney’s) good quality of life has a powerful pull, perhaps made even more seductive by beautiful beaches and a sophisticated culture.’
Launched last year with an impressive $100 million in apartments sold within the first week, Crown Group’s North Sydney project, Skye by Crown, features an infinity-edge rooftop pool, top floor gym and indoor/outdoor common area.

After a string of successful residential projects in Sydney since it formed 18 years ago, Crown Group has established a solid reputation around the world for its resort-style amenities and after-sales service.

Founded in Sydney in 1996, Crown Group has successfully completed major developments in Sydney’s best locations including Bondi, Bondi Junction, Parramatta, Ashfield, Epping, Homebush, Newington, Pennant Hills and Rhodes.

Crown Group is now accepting Expressions of Interest for Sydney by Crown.

This 40 page guide from Hamilton Litestat offers a quick ‘snap-shot’ of all 18 collections within its comprehensive range of quality switch plates and sockets, highlighting the differences between each plate design and available finishes. As well as more detailed information on Hamilton’s Bespoke design and production service, Savile Row, the guide also contains an introduction to Hamilton’s Mercury® Lighting Control and Multi-room Audio system, which when integrated creates a total light and sound package.

Each product page contains a unique QR code, which when scanned will take the reader direct to the relevant product web page.

Contact Hamilton Litestat via their website for more details.

If you can’t visit us, we’ll come to you! That’s the message from award-winning bed manufacturer Hypnos as it takes its specialist contract bed offering around the UK to key hospitality hotspots.For the first time ever, the company is embarking on a UK road show tour to demonstrate to hoteliers, B & B and guesthouse owners, interior designers and self-catering holiday park owners the wide range of options available to them when it comes to choosing the right sleeping solution for their space, property and guests.

Hypnos is of course exhibiting at the Independent Hotel Show and The Sleep Event this year, but understands that not all hoteliers and hospitality owners can make those events, so the business is responding to this by carrying out its own ‘hotel shows’ at select regional locations.

Hypnos sleep experts will also be on hand to give advice and unveil the details of the new and exclusive Hypnos full service project management solution, designed to help meet the individual and unique needs of each hospitality business. This service includes bed design, bed production, delivery and in-room installation of beds. And ethical hotel owners can also trust Hypnos to provide a green and responsible alternative to landfill through its environmentally-friendly disposal and recycling service of old beds.

And one of the most useful and informative aspects of each ‘hotel show’ is that visitors can lie down and take the comfort test on all the ranges available, allowing them to compare and contrast.

Hypnos is committed to helping the hospitality market ensure its guests sleep soundly and therefore, all its supremely comfortable contract beds legally comply with the latest BS 7177 (medium hazard) Crib 5 fire safety laws and also come with bed bug protection built into the mattress, and with a five year guarantee.

Chris Ward, marketing director at Hypnos, comments: “We’re really looking forward to giving everyone in the hotelier and hospitality industry the chance to come and see our products first hand. We’re aware that not everyone will have been able to visit the big trade shows this year, so we thought we would bring our products directly to them instead.

“As well as showing our extensive range of products, we’re keen to let people know that we offer more than just beds, with our experts on hand to advise people about our unique service offering which caters for even the most unusual projects.”

The Hypnos hotel shows will take place on the following dates:
14th October at Mere Court Hotel in Cheshire
3rd November at The Captains Club in Dorset.

The bed manufacturer is also at the Independent Hotel Show on 21 and 22nd October and The Sleep Event on 26 and 27th November.

For further details, please contact contract@hypnosbeds.com or call +44 (0) 1159 732180.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel companies worldwide, announces the Park Inn by Radisson Residence Dubai Jumeirah Village Triangle. The property featuring 261 studios and apartments is scheduled to open in Q2 2017. It brings Carlson Rezidor’s portfolio in Dubai to 14 hotels with around 3,300 rooms in operation and under development. “Dubai remains one of our most important markets in the Middle East. The country is performing at high levels and gearing towards mega events such as World Expo 2020 which will further drive demand for internationally branded hotel rooms and serviced apartments”, said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor. “We are delighted to introduce this project – situated in the upcoming area of Jumeirah Village Triangle – together with our partner Aqua Properties”, continued Neumann.

“We are delighted to be entering into a partnership with Rezidor whose vast experience and international expertise, as well as their growth in the UAE, will ensure the success of this new project. The signing of the new property in Dubai is the beginning of a progressive partnership, and we look forward to delivering the best quality in design, construction and finishing”, said Ali Tumbi, CEO of Aqua Properties.

The Park Inn by Radisson Residence Dubai Jumeirah Village Triangle will enjoy a strategic location on Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Road; allowing for easy access to all key areas of the city. The hotel will be a twenty nine-storey construction comprising 261 studios, one and two bedroom apartments. Guests will benefit from a contemporary lifestyle ambiance and state-of-the-art amenities including an outdoor pool, fitness centre, and a multi-purpose meeting room. Dining outlets will include an all-day dining, a lobby lounge and a gourmet pantry.

Park Inn by Radisson is Carlson Rezidor’s core brand within the midmarket segment. Currently being refreshed as a young, dynamic and colourful brand Park Inn by Radisson targets the growing clientele of Gen X and Gen Y. Based on the three strong pillars Choice – Connectivity – Control Park Inn by Radisson hotels and residences offer a warm welcome, a personalized and hassle free stay, and innovative services for business and leisure travellers alike.

The Group, already present in 17 countries, with 93 hotels and almost 16 000 rooms, is opening new frontiers in Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.During the Africa Hotel Investment Forum, held in Addis Ababa, Accor reaffirmed its commitment to development in Africa. Accor is already present on all segments, from luxury to budget, with its Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget brands.

In 2014, Accor has signed 11 new contracts in Africa:
• 1 Sofitel : in Tamuda Bay/Morocco
• 3 Pullman : 1 in Addis Ababa/Ethiopia, 1 in Kinshasa/Democratic Republic of Congo, 1 in Nairobi/Kenya
• 1 Novotel : 1 in Mohammedia/Morocco
• 3 Mercure : 2 in Morocco (Nador and Al Hoceima), 1 in Algiers/Algeria
• 2 ibis : 1 in Mohammedia/Morocco, 1 in N’Djamena/Chad
• 1 hotel without brand : in Al Hoceima/Morocco

These 11 new contracts represent some 1700 new rooms. 3 hotels, signed in 2014, are already opened in Al Hoceima & Nador.

“With already 4 openings in 2014, including ibis Casablanca Nearshore, Accor will continue its expansion in the coming months and years”, declares Antoine Guego, Chief Operating Officer Africa & Indian Ocean. ”Indeed everyone agrees that the African continent is living an economical revolution. With our strong experience -we are in Africa since 1975- we will look closely on how to expand quicker and stronger”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that its trailblazing Element brand plans to open a third hotel in Florida, less than a mile from Universal Studios Orlando. Element Orlando is slated to debut in July 2016, following next year’s opening of both Element Orlando North and Element Miami Doral. Owned by Barakat Orlando Resort, LLC, developed by GCD Associates, and managed by New Jersey based Paramount Hotel Group, Element Orlando will offer 151 stylish, sustainable rooms and a light-filled atmosphere designed to fuel a life in balance and on the move. The hotel will be located at 5875 Carrier Drive, less than a mile from Universal Studios Orlando, and just minutes from both SeaWorld and Walt Disney World Resort. The hotel will also be one mile from I Drive Live, a development opening in late 2014 with a Ferris wheel, Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum, Sea Life Aquarium, several restaurants and a brewery. The Orange County Convention Center, Orlando International Airport (MCO), and several premium golf courses are all within close proximity.

The stylish, sustainable rooms and suites at Element Orlando will feature a fluid design of modular furniture, swivelling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets. Rooms will also offer fully equipped kitchens and the signature Heavenly® Bed, and spa-inspired bathrooms will feature an invigorating rain shower and dual-flush toilet. Other brand signatures will include a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness centre, outdoor pool, and 750 square-foot meeting room with modular furnishings, a flexible layout and state-of-the-art technology that can be customized to meet any business or social needs. Guests can stay on the move with Element’s complimentary bikes to borrow and enjoy fun and free extras including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, the signature RISE breakfast, RELAX evening reception, and salon bar carts stocked with premium wines and beers, soft drinks and snacks, available after hours.

ONE of the North East’s top hotels has unveiled the results of a £100,000 refurbishment.

As part of an ongoing investment programme, The Ballroom at five star Seaham Hall Hotel, County Durham, has undergone an extensive redesign to strengthen its position as one of the county’s foremost function venues.The room, which accommodates up to 100 people for weddings, corporate and social events, now incorporates custom made Irish carpets along with state-of-the-art touches, such as full audio visual connectivity.

The refurbishment of the ground floor room, which overlooks the Hall’s grounds, follows the unveiling of Seaham Hall’s Taittinger Sports Lounge and its Byron’s Bar & Grill earlier this year.

The sports lounge, which is open to residents and non-residents alike, enables sports lovers to view a variety of matches on a state-of-the-art 80 inch plasma screen and also houses a full size table football game and nine foot American pool table.

Meanwhile, Byron’s Bar & Grill, which recently earned a second AA rosette under the leadership of executive chef Simon Bolsover, offers a variety of dishes including meat and fish, cooked over a whisky barrel and charcoal embers in an indoor clay barbecue.

Work is already underway on the next phase of Seaham Hall’s refurbishment programme with the first of the hotel’s 20 suites having undergone a complete re-design.

In keeping with the Georgian hotel’s contemporary décor, each suite will be uniquely styled and boast a range of facilities, including full air-conditioning, flat screen TVs, Nespresso coffee machines and complimentary WiFi throughout.

Ross Grieve, Seaham Hall Hotel’s general manager, said: “After 30 months and considerable investment Seaham Hall is once again a five star hotel.

“Not only does it boast a two AA rosetted restaurant and the multi-award-winning Serenity Spa but, most importantly, a dedicated team is in place, committed to excellent customer service.

“I have assembled a superb management team and we are on track to make Seaham Hall the region’s top hotel.”

This month Jumeirah Carlton Tower unveiled a stunning transformation of its Ballroom which evokes the timeless style and elegance of Art Deco design. Courtesy of Lynne Hunt London, the exquisite new design exudes an atmosphere of rich and refined beauty, making it an even more desirable venue. While the Ballroom’s grand chandeliers have been retained, peacock granite plinths and gold-tile columns adds to the décor, completing a look reminiscent of 1920s glamour. A beautiful zig-zag effect carpet in shades of chocolate, charcoal, beige and ivory have be installed, along with a stunning gold wall covering.

Suitable for any special occasion or conference, the newly refurbished ballroom accommodates up to 400 guests for dinner or up to 700 for a cocktail reception. Alternatively, the space can be divided into three more intimate areas – Westbourne, Knightsbridge and Salisbury – to accommodate up to 320 guests for a theatre set up, 220 guests for a reception set up, and 50 guests for a banquet set up respectively.

Commenting on the refurbishment, Katherine Gordon, Director of Sales and Marketing, said: “We are very excited to unveil our refurbished Ballroom. The décor’s delicate ‘Moderne’ approach, blended with contemporary Art Deco style, builds upon Jumeirah Carlton Tower’s existing atmosphere of elegance and sophistication. Adorned with impressive chandeliers, the sumptuous Ballroom will continue to offer visitors an elegant, classic setting for any special occasion or conference.”

Germany still the darling of the hotel investment sector with transaction levels heading for €2bnOn average German hotels have recorded a RevPAR (rooms revenue per available room) increase of 2.5% in the year-to-July compared with the same period in 2013, driven primarily by occupancy.

A report from HVS, Germany – The Investor’s Darling? released to coincide with property trade fair Expo Real [Munich 6-8 October 2014] reveals the German hotel market is one of the most sought after for investors fuelled by low interest rates and the fact that debt liquidity has returned to pre-crisis levels.

Following the crisis years of 2008 and 2009, 2010 saw a general recovery of the sector with German markets even exceeding their 2007 peak. Since then, RevPAR has continued to grow and investment has remained strong.

Major recent portfolio transactions include that of Accor, of which 67 of the 86 properties were in Germany. The total portfolio transacted for €722 million and was sold to Accor by two Moor Park funds, in a reverse of Accor’s sale-and-leaseback of substantially the same portfolio to Moor Park in 2007. The sale of 11 German hotels, part of 18 European hotels, by Ivanhoe Cambridge for €425 million to a fund affiliated to Apollo Global for €425 million, was another substantial deal for the sector.

“The hotel market has mirrored the wider commercial real estate market in that higher-yielding opportunities in secondary markets are becoming more sought after,” commented report co-author Veronica Waldthausen, senior associate with HVS.

“There are more transactions occurring in eastern Germany, with both Dresden and Leipzip on the radar. Budget hotels are also prime targets, as room yield growth forecasts in this sector remain strong and investment opportunities are plentiful.”

Hotels in Munich have the highest value across Germany, although growth has slowed somewhat over the past four years. The average room price of a hotel in Munich reached record levels at €269,000 in 2013, 15% higher than 2007 levels.

Frankfurt’s hotel values have the highest growth rate of those markets examined in the report, up 25% on pre-crisis levels to a 2013 average value of €212,000 per room. Hotels in Dusseldorf lie at €173,000, while those in Leipzig have grown by over 20% since 2007 to a new value of €130,000.

“More risk-enthusiastic investors, such as private equity funds, may even see the current climate in Germany as a perfect time to exit this market and begin to look for higher returns elsewhere in Europe,” added co-author Arlett Oehmichen, director, HVS London.

The report says that the outlook for the German hotel industry remains strong, with continued investor interest prompting the possibility that transaction volumes may exceed €2 billion in 2014, despite the lack of property on the market. Debt remains relatively cheap in Germany, which is encouraging investors and underpinning the property boom.

Germany remains one of Europe’s most sought-after hotel investment markets, the report concludes.

Germany – The Investor’s Darling? by Veronica Waldthausen and Arlett Oehmichen can by downloaded here.

The luxurious country retreat of Norton House Hotel and Spa, just 20 minutes from Edinburgh, is enjoying the striking design, appearance retention and durability of woven axminster carpet from Lano Flooring Solutions. Initially supplying carpet in the first phase to the function suite and in the second phase throughout the entrance, stairs and corridors, Lano Flooring Solutions’ latest involvement in the Norton House Hotel and Spa comes in the Garden Suite:

“We wanted the Garden Suite to have a botanical design that would also work in terms of scale and provide a tasteful and subtle floor for the numerous weddings and other functions taking place,” explains Liz McNeil, director, 10 Design. “Scale was important as it had to be large enough to work with the dimensions of this expansive room, while also having subtlety and not becoming too overpowering.”

Working from the brief given by 10 Design, Lano Flooring Solutions created an initial concept that was refined in collaboration with the interior design company until the final pattern was achieved. Featuring a rich brown base colour, segmented by tonal, blue and green pinstripes and adorned with a leaf motif, the carpet creates a sense of flow through the different areas of the Garden Suite adapting in design from sweeping florals of the main function area to a more restrained interpretation in the lounge and bar area.

A total of 1,227 square metres of carpet have been installed at Norton House Hotel and Spa over a two-year cycle, enabling all areas of the venue to remain functional. In a high-performance wool-rich blend to offer maximum resilience, the carpet has been woven in a dense and durable nine-row construction to ensure it withstands use and upholds its appearance.

“We have worked with Lano Flooring Solutions for many years and deal directly with its hugely experienced design team. Its great to deal with those involved in a similar profession as they have a clear understanding of your intention and how best to realise it in carpet,” concludes Liz McNeil.

The Norton House Hotel and Spa is part of the select Handpicked Hotels group, a privately owned collection of the UK’s finest country house heritage hotels.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced that it will debut the St. Regis brand in Kazakhstan’s lively capital city with the opening of The St. Regis Astana and The Residences at The St. Regis Astana. The project is scheduled to open in 2017, underscoring Starwood’s strategy to open the best hotels in emerging markets.The St. Regis Astana will encompass one of the most prestigious addresses in the capital city, located in Astana Central Park – known as the heart of the city – and nearby embassies, corporate headquarters and banks. The new-build hotel will feature 120 luxurious guest rooms, including 18 spacious suites and a Presidential Suite. The hotel will also offer unrivalled event and meeting space for special celebrations including a ballroom, five meeting rooms and a business centre.

Old meets new with the Retro Nouveau collection by BAGNODESIGN, the classically styled bathroom range designed for modern living. With an olde worlde charm and sophisticated elegance, Retro Nouveau inspires creativity in the classically styled bathroom, with a range of washbasin and sanitaryware options, co-ordinating brassware in a depth of finishes, luxurious bath tubs and stylish accessories.

Encouraging creativity and offering endless design possibilities, Retro Nouveau features washbasins in a variety of widths, which can be wall-hung, or placed on a traditional pedestal. Alternatively, the basin sits neatly on the range’s beautiful base unit, made from dark oak and with two drawers for convenient and ample storage space in the busy family bathroom or master en-suite. The handles of the unit can be chosen in a variety of finishes for an individual finish.

The theme of embracing traditional style with a contemporary twist continues throughout the collection, with the WC available in a back-to-wall, close-coupled or wall-hung version and with either a black or white seat and lid. And of course no traditional bathroom setting would be complete without a stunning roll-top bath, with the Retro Nouveau collection being the perfect partner for BAGNODESIGN’s beautiful Princess or Farringdon freestanding tubs.

Complete the look of a bygone era with co-ordinating brassware, again available in a wide variety of finishes, including bronze, brushed nickel, gold, copper or chrome, plus a comprehensive range of accessories, to give the bathroom its own distinctive style.

For more details contact BAGNODESIGN on 01924 233977, or visit the website at www.bagnodesign.co.uk

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel companies worldwide, opens the Radisson Blu Hotel, Kayseri in Turkey. It is the group’s 10th operating Radisson Blu property in Turkey and further strengthens Europe’s largest upper upscale brand known for stylish & sophisticated design, unique service concepts and the service philosophy Yes I Can!The Radisson Blu Hotel, Kayseri is centrally located in one of Turkey’s fastest growing and most modern cities. The 244 rooms and suites provide guests with gorgeous views and with signature services such as free high-speed internet access.

Leisure and business travellers alike enjoy the hotel’s beautiful wellness centre including a traditional Turkish hammam, steam bath, indoor pool with jet streams, thermal pool, solarium and gym. Four restaurants and bars delight every plate – the menus feature local and international dishes as well as famous Turkish desserts. A stunning rooftop restaurant & bar offer panoramic views over the city and the nearby Erciyes Mountains.

Kayseri is one of Turkey’s industrial centers and has a rapidly growing commercial life. With its upper upscale and well-equipped meeting & event spaces, the Radisson Blu hotel is set to become a preferred choice for conferences and private events in the city. The property comprises eight elegant meeting rooms as well as a grand 808-square-metre ballroom.

“Kayseri has always been an important business destination in Turkey and is attracting more and more visitors’, comments Mehmet Mulayim, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel Kayseri. “We are proud to add an outstanding product to the city’s supply and look forward to hosting national and international business and leisure travellers”, added Mulayim.

Kayseri also features beautiful historic monuments from the bygone days of the Seljuks and Ottomans. The ancient region of Cappadocia is only 68 km away – fascinating tourists with its unique history and famous landscapes.

One of the top hotels in the regency town of Bath, Bailbrook House Hotel, part of the award-winning Hand Picked Hotels collection of country house hotels, is now adorned with bespoke woven carpet from Wilton Carpets Commercial.Drawing on the updated classic designs of the Virtue collection, nearly 3000 square metres of woven axminster carpet have been fitted throughout the original Grade II Listed Mansion House and adjacent Bailbrook Court accommodation and conference facility.

“I always start a scheme with the selection of carpet as I think it has a big impact on the space,” explains Angela Amesbury, Amesbury Design, responsible for the total interior refurbishment. “The range of styles from Wilton is great to work with and partnering with the design team helped greatly as we rescaled, reworked and recoloured existing designs from the Virtue Collection.”

Throughout the lounges, corridors and staircases of the original 18th Century Mansion House, variations of the same beautiful classical scroll design have been used to create a sense of flow without becoming too repetitive. Within large areas the pattern is bordered with a smart dot design to create a striking lace effect on the edge of the rug, while in smaller areas an all-over coordinate is employed. The feature floral motif has also been omitted in areas where space dictates that a simplified but no less elegant carpet be used. All working from an autumnal palette with purple and cream accent colours that work beautifully with the fabrics and natural stone

The coordinating design transitions in the galleried walkway and selected areas of the Bailbrook Court building, where a more contemporary design takes over in hospitality suites to coordinate with the modern approach of the interior. A singular damask element is retained with dramatic contrasting purple tones offsetting the pared-back interior.

For the Bath stone ceilinged Cloisters Restaurant, in the basement of the main building, another contemporary ironwork scroll in chocolate and limes has been employed helping to create a warm ambience that complements the heritage of the building and atmosphere of one of Bath’s most prestigious dining experiences.

Angela continues; “I needed a carpet design that would follow throughout the whole hotel but that could be adjusted in certain areas to avoid monotony. The scale was hugely important too and so I worked closely with Wilton Carpets Commercial to achieve the stunning end result.”

The carpets were manufactured on electronic jacquard looms in a performance blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon at Wilton Carpets Commercial’s Wiltshire production facility. Installed by LGM Ltd of Kidderminster as part of a £10million refurbishment, the carpets are now providing Bailbrook House Hotel with a floor that possesses excellent appearance retention and resists the signs of wear.

The £10m restoration at the hotel created 13 prestigious feature bedrooms, many with stunning original features, a new fine dining restaurant, three large lounges and a conservatory bar in the Mansion House.

Bailbrook Court, next to the Mansion House, has 81 classic and executive bedrooms, all of which have been completely refurbished to a high standard. Bailbrook Court has the Lansdown restaurant, with a brasserie-style menu, excellent meeting and event facilities, with a selection of boardrooms, training suites and syndicate rooms.

WorldMark® by Wyndham, one of Wyndham Vacation Ownership’s four primary consumer brands, has recently announced it has expanded its presence in Texas with the acquisition of Stablewood Springs Resort, located in Hunt, Texas. The resort is the Company’s second in Texas and is anticipated to open to WorldMark owners in early 2015. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.“The acquisition and development of this resort is an exciting opportunity for us to provide additional vacation options for our owners and guests traveling to Texas,” said Geoff Richards, chief operations officer, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands. “Our valued owners will be able to experience beautiful accommodations and amenities, while enjoying the highly-sought after area of the Texas hill country.”

Stablewood Springs, located on a ridge in the Guadalupe River Valley, sits on 140 acres of land and includes a swimming complex, a fitness center, hiking and biking trails and a fishing pond. It is anticipated that 31 units will be available to WorldMark owners in early 2015, and new construction will begin soon to create additional units by 2016.

Hunt, Texas is known for its tranquil scenery, and is filled with meandering rivers, rugged mountains, valleys and canyons. Visitors can enjoy Los Maples, a 2,200-acre wildlife park, or the nearby town of Fredricksburg featuring quaint shops and antiques.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the Staybridge Suites® Phoenix – Chandler hotel, located close to the city of Phoenix and just a short distance from numerous prominent businesses such as Intel®, Bank of America®, Verizon® and Honeywell®. Conveniently located to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the hotel is owned by Pacific Lodging of Chandler, LLC and managed by Tharaldson Hospitality Management and is franchised by an affiliate of IHG. This is owner Gary Tharaldson’s fifth Staybridge Suites hotel and comes on the heels of their recent opening in Denver, Colorado, the 200th hotel for the Staybridge Suites brand.

The four-story Staybridge Suites Phoenix Chandler hotel features 104 well-designed spacious suites (a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom/two-bath). The new property offers exceptional home-like surroundings including complimentary amenities such as Internet connectivity throughout the hotel with Wireless Anywhere, daily hot breakfast, Laundry Room, Fitness Room, Pool, and a 24-hour Business Center, as well as access to The Pantry, the hotel’s 24-hour convenience store. Guests can relax and mingle in the hotel’s Great Room during The Social evening receptions, held each Tuesday through Thursday, offering complimentary beer and wine and customizable entrées.

Lyndon Design, the leading manufacturer of upholstered handcrafted furniture for commercial interiors and part of The Boss Design Group, has once again collaborated with award-winning furniture designer, Mark Gabbertas, to unveil Maya.

A distinctive tub-style chair that exudes comfort and style whilst retaining a strong and clearly defined form, Maya is ideal for a wide variety of interiors, including both formal and informal spaces.Offering the choice of two back heights, Maya is characterised by its compact and graphic form, with a clearly expressed junction of the seat and back elements and a gentle taper to its overall profile. The premise of the design is that it can provide a sense of privacy, but also encourage sociability and interaction, depending on how the user positions themselves in the chair.

This latest collaboration is undeniably a striking design and echoes Lyndon Design’s impeccable manufacturing expertise and ability to combine first class design with unparalleled craftsmanship.

Commenting on his latest collaboration with Lyndon Design, Mark Gabbertas said: “We always envisaged a chair with a strong, clearly defined form that deliberately contrasted the strictness of its exterior with the comfort and cosseting nature of the interior. A chair that you can use in different ways depending on where you are and what you want to do.’’

Lyndon Design’s Managing Director, Tim Armitt said: “Appealing to both corporate and hospitality arenas, Maya successfully harnesses the design vision of Mark Gabbertas with the renowned quality craftsmanship of Lyndon Design – a winning formula.”

Part of The Boss Design Group – the UK’s leading seating manufacturer – Lyndon Design specialises in the design and manufacture of handcrafted upholstery and furniture for commercial interiors. Specified worldwide throughout the hospitality, leisure, retail and corporate sectors, Lyndon Design is renowned for its classic and simplistic designs, high-end quality and craftsmanship, together with its bespoke manufacturing capabilities. Established in 1982 and based in Cheltenham, the company boasts extensive design and woodwork facilities that combine traditional hand-crafted techniques with state-of-the-art CNC systems. The company is committed to using sustainable materials and is both FSC accredited (Forestry Stewardship Council) and PEFC accredited (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes).

In its most recent collaboration with Corbin & King, Dernier & Hamlyn has manufactured beautiful art deco chandeliers for The Beaumont Hotel, Jeremy King and Chris Corbin’s first hotel, which will open in Mayfair this autumn. A statement, grand fitting has been produced for the hotel’s entrance. Cast in brass and finished in antique bonze, it is dressed with custom made glass rods. A smaller version has also been made at Dernier & Hamlyn’s London factory and installed in the main lobby. Throughout the main public areas, including lobbies and stairwells, Dernier & Hamlyn has also produced feature pendants that include handmade cast glass panels that feature chevrons and have been sand blasted to emulate typical art deco styling.

Jeremy King says:
“We select our suppliers carefully and seek out companies that share our values, which focus on honesty, integrity and continual improvement. Dernier & Hamlyn has a similar approach. Therefore when it comes to bespoke lighting for our properties we choose D&H primarily for its reputation for quality, attention to detail and its business ethics.”

Dernier & Hamlyn joint managing director Jeremy Quantrill says:
“We have worked on several Corbin & King projects including Brasserie Zedel and Fischer’s. Producing lighting for the Beaumont Hotel was a really interesting project and one which drew on our historical knowledge and archives from the 1930s.”

A range of Roca’s bathroom products, including the luxury Armani/Roca range, have been used at the BLOC hotel in Gatwick, helping owner, Colin Graham, create a new concept in affordable accommodation; something which he describes as ‘pared-down chic’.Offering a high-end look and luxurious experience at prices that won’t break the bank, at BLOC the very best materials are used but in a way that’s focused on utilising space to the maximum. This approach allows BLOC hotels to be stylish and comfortable, in prime city-centre locations, but at room rates more akin with budget competitors.

Why Roca?
With products ranging from functional to high-end, and everything in between, Roca offered the ideal levels of versatility Colin needed to create usable, yet luxurious wash rooms. Sanitaryware and furniture was chosen to meet the individual needs of each space – BLOC’s rooms are priced on three levels; basic, executive and luxury.

“Throughout the project, my priority has been to work with major brands that are genuinely enthusiastic about what we are trying to do,” said Colin. “Roca has been fantastic in that regard, offering a range of options for every room type.”

Roca’s Element brassware has been used in BLOC’s ‘Snug’ and ‘Vista’ rooms, with the innovative water-saving W+W, which re-uses water from the basin to fill the cistern, featuring in the mid-priced, ‘Aspire’ bedrooms. For the ‘Presidential’ and ‘VIP’ rooms Armani/Roca adds the perfect finishing touch.

Colin explained why Roca fitted his dream for BLOC. “At the high-end of the scale, the inclusion of Armani/Roca wash basins and brassware has enabled me to provide that high-quality feel that premium paying guests expect, while enjoying the kudos of being associated with a major luxury brand.

“For the more cost-competitive rooms, Roca delivered products that are affordable, yet stylish and functional. W+W is my personal favourite; its ground breaking, working perfectly with our pared down, luxury take on the hotel market.”

“For me, Roca offered the perfect balance of design and quality,” Colin concluded.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the signing of a new 900-room InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts property in downtown Los Angeles, California. The luxury hotel will make its mark on the city’s skyline as part of Korean Air and Hanjin Group’s more than $1.1 billion new-build Wilshire Grand project. Once completed it will be the largest InterContinental hotel in the Americas region. The 73-story, 1,100-foot tall development is set to be the tallest building in the western United States, providing unobstructed 360-degree views of Los Angeles. Currently under construction, the development will house the InterContinental hotel as well as offices and retail space. The hotel will be the first on the west coast to have a sky-lobby, which is located on the 70th floor. It is set to open in 2017 and will be the first hotel built by Korean Air in the U.S.

Similar to the InterContinental hotel brand, Hanjin and Korean Air have been a part of the international scene for decades. From its humble beginnings in 1945, Hanjin and Korean Air have become one of the largest logistics and travel/hospitality companies in the world, including the largest Asian airline in Los Angeles. The InterContinental brand began just a year later in 1946 and became the world’s first truly international luxury hotel brand. Today, the InterContinental brand has grown to more than 180 hotels globally and has 51 additional hotels in its development pipeline. Both brands share parallel histories and a deep commitment to creating solutions that meet the evolving needs of today’s global travellers.

The impressive height and sleek design of the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown building complements the design style of the InterContinental brand’s city hotel destinations. In particular, the new property will reflect the four ecological typologies of Los Angeles while also embracing the laid-back sophistication of the city. The natural wood and warm colours in the building will reflect the city’s beach culture while the hotel’s sky lobby will incorporate Los Angeles’ car culture into the design through abstract representations of car lines into the internal panelling and décor.

Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Beijing’s most iconic building, is designed by Chief Designer Zhang Hai Ao and his team from Shanghai Huadu Architect Design Company; Interior Design is by DiLeonardo.Design
As an homage to the landscape and architecture, the interior is largely inspired by the idea of framing the view whether it is capturing the view of the exterior landscape, or framing areas within by enclosing a space, or setting a vignette of the interior décor. The designer created elements of intrigue within the overall design of the hotel by experimenting with the juxtaposition of solids and voids, and infusing reoccurring geometric forms into unexpected spaces, design elements and features.

The Lobby
The centrepiece of the hotel lobby is a custom-designed art feature. Set around the stunning staircase, the feature is composed of thousands of round glass spectrums hanging from the ceiling to the ground on stainless steel cables. Its design abstractly reflects the exterior outline of the mountainous landscape beyond Yanqi Lake. Intentionally set apart, the panels are layered behind each other within the lobby space, each with a unique design intended to create depth as the viewer looks upon it from different angles. The lobby furniture is contemporary and provides a sense of order in the open space while splashes of jewel-toned violets can be found throughout the soft finishes of the décor, carpet design and stone flooring.

Presidential Suite
Refined yet subtle, muted and uncontrived – these are the words to describe the space within the Presidential Suite. The suite is understated with a contemporary flair and furniture. Jackson Pollock-style artworks adorn the walls of the suite, while large-scale abstract floral- embossed carpet is inlaid with French walnut wood floors. Other detailing includes bevelled mirror-lined friezes around the recessed ceiling and air vents, metallic-backed, fabric wallpaper-lined panels with detailed grooves lining the walls, and silk-like material lining the back of the feature wall bookshelf in the study. The relaxed interior balances with the serene exterior view out to the lake and mountains.

Guestrooms and Suites
The guestroom design is minimal and contemporary yet relaxed. Hints of soft blues conjure a peaceful ambiance, with wallpapered panels softening the overall space while printed fabric selections for accent pillows suggest the hotel’s resort location. Honey golden wood in the flooring brightens up the space while providing a sense of warmth for the guest.

Contemporary furniture pieces in dark and golden brown zebrano are accented with metal and mirrored details adding sleekness to the room’s decor. The monolithic and large-scaled zebrano wood frame around the bed suggests the ‘framing’ concept being carried throughout the hotel’s design and brings it into the guestroom interior architectural design.

A subtle hint to Chinese influence in the modern interpretation of an antique Chinese wood-carved chair repurposed as a desk chair accompany the work desk along the wall beside the inset television. Smoked glass encases the split bathroom facilities, with the bathtub looking out into the guestroom integrating the bathroom with the living space and allowing for natural light to subtly spill into the space.

Floor Two – Atrium
Floor two connects to the ballroom and meeting rooms. The atrium space, with the connecting staircase to floor two of the hotel, is accented by a large-scale three-dimensional geometric feature wall with integrated lighting. Set within a stone frame the arrangement is an abstract set of smaller geometric three-dimensional frames of various sizes that run the height of the 5 four-storey space. Suspended within the void of the atrium is a large-scale, Ruth Asawa-inspired wire-sculpted lighting feature.

Ballroom and Meeting Rooms
The pre-function space features a two-storey-high feature wall with various linear sections composed of interchanging pieces of metal and wood, creating a continuous, bevelled rippling effect along the wall. A row of monolithic rectangular columns extends in front of the feature wall to ‘frame’ the space. The ceiling design has light alcoves that suspend an arrangement of large-scale lanterns encased within three-dimensional irregular geometric gold frames. The ballroom is envisioned to be a ‘jewellery box’, inferring that the most valuable items are within. The wall panels are upholstered in velvet while the main design feature is the ceiling, organized by a grid of squares. Within each square is a chandelier of coloured crystal pieces arranged in various lengths, mimicking the outline of a mountain range with a purplish hue.

Continued on page two…

Leading UK shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has introduced a luxury new product to their striking collection of Quadrant Shower Enclosures. Roman has meticulously designed and manufactured the new Bow Fronted Quadrant, which has been added to their compelling Lumin8 range of 8mm Shower Enclosures, Walk-Ins and Bath Screens.

Bathrooms in the UK are becoming smaller but people still want a luxury showering facility, this is where the Lumin8 range fits in perfectly as it delivers showering solutions to meet all requirements whilst bringing a touch of luxury into the bathroom.

The Lumin8 Bow Fronted Quadrant has been cleverly designed and shaped to make the most out of your available bathroom space. The weight of the toughened 8mm thick glass presents a smooth gliding door action; the sliding door avoids obtrusion into the bathroom and into the showering area. This Quadrant is perfect for the smaller bathroom as it allows for existing fixtures and fittings, whilst presenting wide and easy access for all. The clever sizing of the 650mm x 1150mm shower tray takes up minimal wall space but delivers a showering area of 1200mm x 1000mm to offer a superior showering experience.

The Lumin8 Enclosures and Walk-ins stand at an elegant height of 1950mm with 8mm thick toughened glass. They feature a stylish chromed brass handle, a bright silver frame, chrome top caps and minimal low profile seals to present a sleek and modern finish. The Lumin8 Bow Fronted Quadrant incorporates smooth running ‘quick release’ roller bearings for easy access cleaning. The Enclosure is flexible to install as it includes 25mm of vertical adjustment in each profile to ensure the perfect fit. The Quadrant has its own dedicated low level shower tray in a choice of white gloss or in one of our new shimmer finishes, including black, grey or white. The Shower Enclosure can also be installed straight to floor using Roman’s Wetroom Shield System, which includes everything you need to tank a room.

All of Roman’s products are manufactured at their headquarters in the North East and the Bow Fronted Quadrant is accompanied with a Lifetime guarantee. It also includes Roman’s unique glass protection system, which promotes easy cleaning and lasting clarity of the glass.

David Osborne, Managing Director of Roman, commented: “We are very excited about all our new product launches this autumn into our Decem and Lumin8 collections. The Bow Fronted Quadrant is a stunning new addition to our Lumin8 range with its space saving qualities, whilst also providing a large showering area and presenting an exceptional showering experience.”

The Luxury Collection, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., announces the opening of The Castle Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian. Owned by the Dalian Yifang Group and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, The Castle Hotel marks The Luxury Collection’s first hotel in Liaoning, China offering the brand’s signature concierge service and indigenous cultural experiences in a majestic urban retreat. The Castle Hotel joins a portfolio of distinct Luxury Collection hotels in China, including the legendary Astor Hotel in Tianjin; Twelve at Hengshan and The Hongta Hotel in Shanghai; and The Royal Begonia Resort in Sanya. Later this year, The Luxury Collection will open The Azure Qiantang as a Luxury Collection hotel in Hangzhou.

The Castle Hotel, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Dalian commands an imposing presence with its palatial Bavarian-style castle set amid lush foliage on Lotus Mountain in Dalian, Northeast China. Overlooking Xinghai Square as well as Xinghai Bay and the Yellow Sea, The Castle Hotel offers 292 luxurious guestrooms and suites as well as 67 residences, offering stunning ocean views with meticulous interior designs. Reimagined by HBA Interior Design, the hotel boasts an opulent, contemporary design where each detail – from the wall decorations and furniture to the ornaments and art collections – tell a story.

Following the hotel’s extensive renovation, The Castle Hotel remains an icon on the city’s skyline and is now poised to take its rightful place as the guardian of Dalian, the “Pearl of Northern China.” The exterior of the hotel remains true to the original European-inspired architecture with hand-selected stones gracing the façade of the castle.

Epicurean Destinations
The Castle Hotel features three restaurants with creative and authentic cuisine options unique to Dalian. Zhen Bao restaurant offers authentic gourmet Cantonese fare featuring fresh “sea-to-table” seafood from Dalian and “farm-to-table” meats and produce; Collections is an all-day dining restaurant with an international menu; and the Royal Cellar features home-brewed German beer and northern European specialties. In addition, guests can choose from two lounge areas – The Lobby Lounge and the Aristocrat Lounge. The Lobby Lounge is an elegant bar offering the classic high tea; while the Aristocrat Lounge is the perfect venue for wines and cigars.

Outstanding Amenities, Service & Special Events
With its prime location, The Castle Hotel is an outstanding special events venue offering a spacious grand ballroom, seven function rooms and a 4,000 square meter open air rooftop garden, which provides an elegant space for memorable occasions from grand-scale weddings, to intimate cocktail parties, to important business meetings.

As part of the opulent experience, guests can enjoy the hotel’s spacious indoor swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and luxurious Kaiser Spa. The Fitness Center features a multi-functional yoga room while the indoor heated swimming pool offers guests a stunning ocean view. For guests looking to unwind, the Kaiser Spa is an oasis for relaxation and features sauna baths, massage services and three entertainment rooms for family and friends to gather.

The Interiors Design Summit 2015 is an invitation-only event where architects and interior designers come together for a day of meeting suppliers who are seeking new solutions as well as attend the series of CPD talks.When – 11th March 2015
Where – London Hilton Wembley

Vanessa Brady will be opening the event as a keynote speaker President of the SBID along with a host of other industry guru’s. More information on speakers to be announced shortly.

For more information please contact Katie on k.hermans@forumevents.co.uk or 01992 374049

London’s trendiest bespoke furniture and homewares retailer is in full swing celebration mode after enjoying a hugely positive reception at this year’s Decorex International event. The show attracts some of the most exclusive British designers, furniture and homewares retailers from across the nation. Over the past four days, the Mille Couleurs team has been manning stall A72 where attendees were free to browse the exclusive collection of products available from the online store. With a passion for creativity, innovation and fine French craftsmanship, the Mille Couleurs exhibit stole the show. A spokesman for the company said, “We couldn’t be happier with the response we received from Decorex attendees. It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of the prestigious event and showcase our collection side by side some of Britain’s most coveted brands.”

This year’s event attracted over 400 high-end designers. From September 21-24, exhibitors flocked to West London’s Syon House to showcase their luxury wares. Thanks to an acute eye for presentation, the Mille Couleurs team set up a beautiful display that won the attention of every passer-by. Rather than display the collection of throws in traditional folded form, the throws were pinned up on the walls in an eye-catching fashion. The full-length display was the perfect way for attendees to appreciate the striking unique designs and the use of ultra-luxurious South African felted Mohair and Merino wool.

The A72 stand was an enticing haven strewn with Carambola beanbags in a kaleidoscope of colour. Crafted using high grain waterproof outdoor fabric and a 100% leather option, the unique creations mimic the aesthetically pleasing contours of the tropical star fruit. Blending sublime comfort with cutting edge style, the beanbags are ideal for commercial and residential rooms alike.

Neighbouring the Carambola collection was a full Jardinière outdoor garden set complete with bench, table, ottoman and planter housing a lush palm. Using the finest solid Iriko wood and a sleek yet understated design, the furniture oozes contemporary class. After hours on end spent wandering around the exhibition, attendees couldn’t help but be drawn to the comfort of the high end lounging solutions.

The spokesperson for Mille Couleurs said, “Over the past four days we’ve drummed up a huge amount of interest in our latest collections. We really found that the turning of the season saw people refocus their attention on warm and comfortable furnishings such as our mohair throw rugs and Carambola bean bags. That said, our Jardinière collection couldn’t help but steal the spotlight with its beautiful solid Iriko build and minimalist design. All in all, Decorex was a great success and we can’t wait to come back next year!”

To find out more about Mille Couleurs, browse the exclusive collection and view uploaded snapshots of the Decorex International stall, visit the website at: www.mc-london.com

A Maldivian Island has come on the market complete with building permits for a luxury hotel resort and spa.

Orivaru is a tropical island paradise in the northern Maldives covering an area of 14 hectares (34.6 acres) and is one of 71 islands forming the Noonu Atoll situated approximately 100 miles north of the Maldivian capital Male. Only 13 of the islands are inhabited the closest of which is home to a luxury Hilton resort and spa on the island of Minaavaru just 5 kilometres away.The Maldives are an extremely popular destination for scuba diving and boast some of the finest corals and ocean life on earth. The romantic charm of the islands have been a favourite with honeymooning celebrities for decades with white sandy beaches and some of the most incredible sunsets over the Indian Ocean imaginable. Orivaru is no exception to this with a natural landscape covered in palms, rich vegetation and wildlife.

Planning permits issued by the Ministry of Tourism pave the way for a luxury island resort including 100 five star private rooms and water villas built around the islands coastline with integrated hotel facilities comprising restaurants, guest lounges, pools and a wellness spa. The island also features a natural port allowing boats and seaplanes to berth without interfering too much with the natural landscape.

Being the lowest lying country in the world with an average of just 1.5 metres of land above water, climate change and rising sea levels are obviously a big concern for the Maldivian government who are working toward becoming carbon neutral by 2020. The administration are already carrying out assessments for the introduction of wind power and with 15% of the country’s GDP spent on fossil fuels are determined to reduce the country’s reliance on diesel powered generators. Maldivian officials are also working in collaboration with Italian designer Michelle Puzzolante to assess the viability of floating resorts powered by solar energy.

The Maldivian registered owners are seeking offers in the region of 14 million dollars for their interest in the island and would be developers literally have a blank canvas to create a luxury resort. The island is held on a long leasehold from the Maldivian government although these are frequently renegotiated and extended. Debutesq Group director Alan O’Connor who is marketing the site says “being just 45 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport, this could no doubt become another very successful tourist destination. A Russian investor recently purchased an island in the northern Atolls for $65m so there is definitely a market out there.”

Well-being at its peak

In France: Infinity, Majestic, or Double Tipi, Cocoon or Grand Large, the names given to the Premium lodges at the Domaine Les Moulins in Noirmoutier are themselves already invitations to travel and relax. And when we have tried them, we know we can no longer live without them…At the heart of a 100% glamping section at Les Moulins, facing the sea but in a well-protected area, this new, privileged range of Premium lodges is designed to house 4 to 6 people.

With their large private terrace facing the sea, plus a sundeck away from prying eyes, they offer the perfect place for relaxation, well-being or just chilling out.

And to enjoy the experience to the full, the wellness centre at the domain offers relaxing massages with essential oils by a therapist in your lodge, facing the sea…

A unique and exclusive service to be enjoyed under perfect relaxing conditions.

The secrets of glamping

Now forming part of everyday language, glamping combines glamour with camping. As a perfect example and early proponent of the movement, Domaine Les Moulins has both the charm of an authentic campsite in-tune with nature and respectful of the environment, and the pomp of a 5-star location offering the most prestigious services: swimming pool, hot tub, wellness centre and the latest activities and entertainment trends.

Alain Dominique Perrin: A real innovator

Businessman and philanthropist, founder of the Cartier Foundation and promoter of the famous “Must”, mentor of an elite training institute, patron of the arts and owner of an extraordinary vineyard at Chateau Lagrezette. That is to say, Alain Dominique Perrin displays a taste for the eclectic.

The management of 4 high quality campsites at Noirmoutier and Leucate, in harmony with their environment and the coast, now adds a new facet to this multi-talented entrepreneur.

Yet there is a real coherence in the career of this aesthete and businessman: whatever the adventure, he aims towards high standards and excellence.

And whether it is for an environmentally friendly campsite, exquisite pieces of jewellery or an exceptional vintage, Alain Dominique Perrin brings all his mastery of the business world and his passion for all things good and beautiful.

A brilliant example of how to combine the useful with the aesthetic.

Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD) and Kerzner International Holdings Limited (“Kerzner”), a leading international developer and operator of destination resorts and luxury hotels, today unveiled plans to forever enhance the landscape of Dubai with The Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences. Located on the crescent of The Palm and next to the iconic Atlantis resort, this new generation of distinctive luxury will offer a sophisticated lifestyle experience, edgier than any resort in the region, with infinite ocean views, accented with lush green spaces, encapsulated in dramatic architecture.“This next phase of Atlantis, including the luxury residences of The Royal Atlantis, will continue to drive the growth of Dubai forward,” commented H.E. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Executive Director and CEO of Investment Corporation of Dubai (“ICD”) and Chairman of Kerzner International. “This investment reaffirms ICD’s commitment to support the long-term growth of our domestic hospitality market, a key pillar and growth sector for the Dubai economy.” H.E. Mohammed Al Shaibani reiterated the importance of this investment for Dubai and its strengthening hotel and tourism industry as the Emirate prepares to host the Expo World Fair in 2020.

Features of the new project will include:
• An approximate total investment of $1.4 billion in the resort expansion and amenities.
• Nearly 800 new guest rooms and lavish suites with spectacular architecture from Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF) and interior design by GA Design.
• 250 luxury Residences that will redefine the leisure residential experience in Dubai, designed by Sybille de Margerie Design, providing exclusive doorstep access to exciting restaurants and entertainment, as well as unsurpassed resort experiences with definitive signature service.
• The Royal Atlantis Resort will stand 46 storeys tall and feature spectacular ocean and Palm views, allowing guests to feel that they are literally floating between the sky and sea.
• Introduction of revolutionary play between fire and water.
• The chic new Sky Pool will soar almost 90 metres above The Palm, offering the ultimate Ultra-Pool experience with Dubai city views.
• New, never before-seen marine experiences.

“The success of Atlantis, The Palm has continued to exceed our financial performance expectations year on year and the time is right to usher in the next phase of this iconic development,” commented Alan Leibman, Chief Executive Officer, Kerzner International. “The Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences will offer a new resort living experience, completely taking it to the next level, while adding an entirely new dynamic with our ultimate residences. As we continue to focus on our global growth strategy, we are thrilled to be making such a significant impact in Dubai, and to be building off the success of the Atlantis brand, which has been so well-received from guests from all over the world.”

Guests and residents will be able to enjoy a variety of unique amenities, from soaring private gardens and private infinity pools overlooking the ocean and The Palm, to the Sky Pool, an Ultra-Pool with a variety of cutting-edge experiences to the ultimate Beach Club. Known for innovative food and beverage concepts, Kerzner International will unveil new world-class restaurants with award-winning celebrity chefs, as well as incredible new entertainment experiences. Luxury retail boutiques will be curated to offer a wide and interesting selection for shopping pleasure. The destination will also house an indulgent Spa, introducing traditional and holistic practices fused with modern spa therapies, as well as a cutting-edge fitness centre. Younger guests will experience their own adventures, from discovering exotic marine life, to culinary lessons, to the latest in gaming. In addition, event space will be available for both large and small gatherings, whether for business or for pleasure.

Atlantis has always redefined destinations and introduced awe-inspiring and never-before-seen experiences, and this next phase of development is no exception. Revolutionary water play and interactive marine experiences will be unveiled for both residents and guests alike. This innovative resort with luxury residences will re-interpret the myth of Atlantis while unveiling ground-breaking experiences.

Located in the Latin Quarter of Copenhagen, the newly refurbished bathrooms in the exclusive 4+ Hotel SP34 feature Laufen sanitaryware, helping it appeal to a ‘luxury bohemian’ clientele. Hotel SP34, part of the Brøchner Hotels chain, has been designed to reflect the physical environment and atmosphere of Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter, with an air of luxury and quality throughout.

Formerly known as Hotel Fox, the accommodation has been expanded into two adjacent townhouses, to include 118 rooms and penthouse suites with skylight bathrooms and balconies with a panorama of the Danish capital.

Designed by Morten Hedegaard, a total of 65 rooms have been refurbished, with the bathrooms in each all featuring Laufen products. In keeping with the boutique hotel’s theme of contemporary living, one of the centre-pieces of the bathrooms is the Living City washbasin from Laufen, while some of the rooms have also been fitted with the Swiss manufacturer’s Laufen Pro bathtub.

With hygiene and ease of cleaning essential for hotels, Laufen Pro rimless WC was chosen for inclusion in each of the newly refurbished guest bathrooms. Offering the perfect complement style-wise to the Living City basin and Pro bathtub, the Pro rimless WC not only looks the part, but also features innovative flushing technology that prevents the build-up of germs and odour.

With no flushing rim, the water reaches every part of the inner basin and gives germs and bacteria no chance to get established. Offering the highest ever standards of hygiene, the Laufen Pro rimless WC is quick and easy to clean, making it the ideal choice for Hotel SP34, where cleaning times need to be quick and a high degree of hygiene is guaranteed.

Commenting on the specification of Laufen products for Copenhagen’s Hotel SP34, Managing Director of Brøchner Hotels, Karim Nielsen said: “We wanted to create a boutique hotel that would appeal to quality conscious guests from Denmark and abroad. We were looking for a different, fresh brand that reflected this image and we found this with Laufen.”

Laufen Nordic Managing Director Soren Hougaard commented: “Hotel bathrooms should be comfortable and luxurious for guests, yet they also need to be practical spaces that are easy to keep clean. By choosing Laufen products for each of its refurbished rooms, Hotel SP34 can rest assured that guests will feel pampered throughout the stay.”

Laufen supplies bathroom solutions for commercial projects around the world and are passionate about bringing the very highest user satisfaction for clients, and ultimately, their guests. This is through an open partnership approach with the highest level of professionalism, through logistics and project management.

For details on the complete range of bathroom solutions available from Laufen visit www.uk.laufen.com or call 01530 510007.

Every year a much anticipated highlight of Sleep, Europe’s leading hotel design and development event, is a one-of-a kind, imaginatively designed Sleep Bar that is a centrepiece and attraction for all who attend. The latest in the series has just reached a new level of acclaim by winning “Best Pop up Bar” at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards 2014.This year’s bar, a dramatic sculptural form crafted from re-purposed washbasins, was created by a team of leading hospitality experts including interior design studio Nous Design, contractors Willmott Dixon and bathroom ceramics manufacturer Laufen Bathrooms, long-time exhibitor at Sleep.

Pioneering artist Vlad Tenu created the innovative aluminium wall sculpture, while suppliers and sponsors Megaman, Interface, Tektura, Soho Myriad, Tacchini, and Ipea UK also supported the installation. Each member of the team illustrated exceptional creativity and commitment to the project. Nir Gilad, Creative Director of Nous Design, confirms the studio is extremely honoured to be recognised with this prestigious international award and shares his insights into the winning concept. “The Sleep Bar was created as a gathering space inspired by nature, an environment to which one can escape.

The bar itself represents a lake, with the aluminium trellis backdrop suggesting a forest and the pendant lights an allusion to clouds. Together, these elements form a seamless, dreamlike ambience.”

The all-white installation is a simple play between defined geometric forms and abstract structures. With an expanse of over 12 metres, the organic wall sculpture behind the bar is made from 1854 pressed aluminium triangles which appear to “grow” from the floor and surround the lounge – yet the components weigh only 200 kg altogether. In contrast, the clean-lined, fully operational bar, which the team believes is the first of its kind, comes in at 1.8 tons. Designed to showcase Laufen’s bathroom products, its “V” shape is constructed from 64 ceramic shelves and washbasins. Concealed lights on each shelf create a linear, floating appearance. The bar’s adjustable top enables new styles of washbasins to be displayed as they are launched, and the insulating properties of the ceramic material means the coldness of the ice wells in the counter is not transferred to the shelves below.

“The construction of the ceramic bar was riddled with technical challenges which the Laufen team successfully resolved,” Nir explains. “It was only through the dedication and positive thinking of the Nous Design team, organisers, sponsors and suppliers that this venture became possible. We thank all the people who spent days and nights in front of their computers, in workshops and at the installation site to bring our vision to life, and are grateful for the overwhelming encouragement we’ve received from our friends, clients, operators and the design community.”

An international panel of esteemed design experts judged the competition, including distinguished landscape and garden designer Andy Sturgeon who called the Sleep Bar “simple yet dramatic.”

Kali Nicholson, Brand Director of Sleep, says “We were delighted to have such an amazing bar for the Great and the Good of the hospitality design industry to enjoy at Sleep last year and are thrilled it continues to be recognised and celebrated, now as award-winning, almost 10 months later.”

The Sleep 2014 Conference, together with the Sleep Set guestroom design competition and the Sleep Exhibition, will be held on the 26th and 27th November at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. A late-night opening running until 8pm on Wednesday, November 26th will include a cocktail hour from 6-7pm at the Sleep Bar, which this year is being designed by Stylt Trampoli. Drawing upon the Business Design Centre’s past life as the Royal Agricultural Hall, the studio aims to create a fresh, vibrant place of respite from the high-energy exhibition and conference. For more information and to register for complementary passes visit: www.thesleepevent.com

The show is the official event partner of the European Hotel Design Awards which will culminate in a dinner on the evening of 25 November when the winners will be announced in a glittering ceremony at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London.

Marriott International’s signature brand, Marriott Hotels, announced plans to open the 202-room Marriott Hotel in Guayaquil in 2016, The Guayaquil Marriott will be the company’s third property in Ecuador and is being developed by Hotecapsa, overseen by Mr. Angel P. Sanchez. Mr. Sanchez is a major local developer in Guayaquil who also opened the famous Sanchez Aguilar Theatre, The Plaza Buena Vista Mall and the Plaza del Prado Mall.Situated in the heart of Los Arcos, Samborondon, the Marriott Guayaquil Hotel will be located in one of city’s most desirable areas within walking distance to Guayaquil’s best shopping, dining and entertainment.

“We are very excited about our new partnership with Marriott and the opportunity to establish the Marriott Hotels brand’s footprint in Ecuador. With the success of the two existing Marriott International properties in Ecuador and the Marriott brand across Latin America and around the world, we are confident that this hotel will be highly successful and play a large role in the continued emergence of the country,” Mr. Angel P. Sanchez, president of Hotecapsa, owner of hotel.

“This is a very exciting time for Marriott in Latin America – we recently announced our goal to double our portfolio in the Caribbean and Latin America by 2017 and are thrilled to now be expanding our portfolio in Ecuador with our new partners,” said Craig S. Smith, President of the Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International. “With this project, not only are we bringing more hotel rooms to the Ecuadorian market, but doing so in a vibrant city like Guayaquil which is experiencing a large growth in business and leisure tourism.”

“We are confident that this beautiful hotel will be highly successful and open the doors for more development opportunities in the surrounding markets in South America, as well as play a large role in the continued emergence of Ecuador,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International.

In addition to 202 guest rooms and suites, the hotel will feature a three-meal-a-day restaurant bar & lounge, a rooftop bar, a concierge lounge, a marketplace, business center, ample meeting space, and state of the art recreational facilities include a swimming pool and a fitness center.

Marriott International is currently represented in Ecuador with the 257-room JW Marriott Quito and the 135-room Courtyard by Marriott Guayaquil.

Crosswater has extended its accessories range, introducing new additions to the Belgravia Traditional collection and contemporary stainless steel Mike Pro. Belgravia accessories pick up on the elegant detail from the classic brassware range, while Mike Pro is sleek and tubular, and comes in two finishes to match the basin and shower fittings in chrome or brushed stainless plated brass. All of the accessories are high quality chromed or brushed stainless metal and have concealed fixings.More than just a finishing touch, accessories are useful, providing space for soap, toiletries, towels and toothbrushes – and are an excellent add on sale for retailers. New accessories can also give a tired old bathroom a brand new look with minimum disruption.

“Accessories are sometimes a last minute thought when buying a bathroom,” says Crosswater Chairman David Hance. “It is in the interest of retailers to present them as part of the sale – and to show how new accessories can play a major role in a cost effective facelift to revamp a tired bathroom. They add value in the functionality and design of the bathroom and are a great final touch.”

LUX* Resort’s flag ship Hotel LUX* Belle Mare is opening its doors to welcome guests to a new understated style of Mauritius luxury. Following the complete transformation of LUX* Belle Mare by Multi award winning British designer Kelly Hoppen, LUX* Belle Mare is set to inspire and delight its guests. London-based Kelly Hoppen has brought her own touch to LUX* Belle Mare with her fresh take on traditional Mauritian hospitality. Hoppen’s new contemporary colour scheme reflects the outstanding colourful beauty of the island. Dressed in soothing whites and vibrant brights, each of the newly renovated thatch-roofed suites and villas offer stunning views out over the Indian Ocean-the perfect getaway with exceptional design.

The perfect holiday destination for families looking to unwind in paradise, LUX* let’s children be children with their own brand of ‘ICI’ ice cream and gives adults the opportunity to be children with surprises round every corner from a pop up cocktail bar to a message in a bottle for a complimentary spa treatment. LUX* Belle Mare is the epitome of island luxury.

Focus SB have launched a new and exciting electrical accessory wall mounting system that gives a truly flush-mounted electrical plate, developed in collaboration with architects and designers SHH (www.shh.co.uk).All existing UK electrical accessories which are flat or raised plates have the edge of the plate above the plaster.

The precision engineered system of the Focus SB Smoothie allows the plate to fit flush with the plaster making it seamless with the wall. Perfect for modern interiors where a minimal, discreet solution is required.

The plate, which is supplied primed, can be painted or wallpapered to match the surrounding wall. Only an outline of the plate and plugs pin holes are visible once the plate is installed and because of its method of construction, removing or inserting the plug does not disturb the surrounding plaster. The socket mounting plate can also be adjusted deeper into the wall and a blank plate inserted, removing from sight the inserts when the socket is no longer in use.

The Focus SB Smoothie can potentially be fitted with any inserts and it may also be possible to manufacture the faceplate out of material other than metal, so the possibilities are endless.

Focus SB manufacture in Sussex and bespoke plates are their speciality, so bespoke solutions are also available in the Smoothie range.

Contact their technical sales office on 01424 858060 for further details on this exciting new product and to discuss your specific requirements.

Inspiring and informative, the Independent Hotel Show is the UK’s only forum bringing together the luxury, boutique and independent hotel sector.Companies from our Directory of suppliers that will be exhibiting include:

Crosswater
Cubbins
Forbes Group Ltd
Geberit Aquaclean Ltd
Hansgrohe
Harlequin
Hypnos Beds
Kobe
Max International
Naturalmat Hotel
Panaz Ltd
Sanderson
Scion
Sekers
Style Matters
Trevira GmBH
Vaughan
Zoffany

Our Editor Patrick Goff and Finance Director Christine Brett will be attending the show on Tuesday 21st October. If you would like an appointment with them to discuss how Hotel Designs can further increase your presence and business in our vibrant market please ring 01323 890604 or contact patrick.goff@hoteldesigns.net

Chelsom have been crowned Exporter of the Year and Creative Business of the Year at the 2014 Be Inspired Business Awards at a lavish ceremony in the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom where they were the only company to win multiple awards in all categories entered.The Be Inspired Business Awards, the BIBAs, are the North West’s biggest and most prestigious business awards celebrating the achievements of businesses regardless of their scale. Run by the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, the BIBAs have become a hallmark for success attracting the cream of the North West’s business community with 1,200 companies vying for the 19 accolades available in the 2014 competition. The winners were selected following a rigorous judging process whereby companies underwent a forensic scrutiny of their business to ensure only the very best made the final shortlist.

The double award win follows what has been a momentous year so far for Chelsom with the continued expansion of the export division of the business seeing exclusive representatives being appointed in Russia and the UAE, a succession of prestigious project wins across the international hospitality and marine sectors including Mondrian London at Sea Containers, Rosewood London, Beekman St NYC, Crystal Symphony, Ritz Carlton Dubai, Sanderson, Movenpick Paris, Sheraton Creek Dubai, Hilton New York, P&O Cruises’ Britannia and Arora along with the incredibly successful launch of their new collection, Edition 24, brand overhaul and completely redesigned website earlier this summer.

Managing Director, Robert Chelsom says, “In our very first year of entering the prestigious BIBA awards, I was utterly thrilled to win Exporter of the Year and then overwhelmed moments later to win Creative Business of the Year as well. Given the strong competition from 1,200 companies, the two awards are a wonderful recognition for all the dedication, passion and hard work put in by the whole Chelsom team. There is in fact a connection between the two awards in that because we understand our interior design marketplace so well and because we continually strive to create exciting and unique products for our clients, the global marketplace appreciates Chelsom and the exports have followed.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has announced the signing of two flagship hotels in Portugal: InterContinental® Lisbon and Crowne Plaza® Porto. Both properties will operate under management agreements between Hotelgal SA, a subsidiary of Global Hotels & Resorts, and IHG.InterContinental Lisbon will open in just a few weeks’ time and will undergo a phased refurbishment of the lobby and public areas. The property was built in 1984 as Le Meridien Hotel, before becoming the Tiara Park Atlantic Lisbon Hotel in 2008. Featuring 237 deluxe rooms, 78 executive rooms, 16 Suites, a fitness studio, 18 meeting rooms, delegate space and a spacious restaurant and bar, the hotel is set to become an icon of luxury in Lisbon’s city centre.

Occupying a prime location in the sophisticated residential area of Park Edouardo VII, InterContinental Lisbon is situated between the historic city centre and the financial district. The hotel is just a five minute walk to Lisbon’s major tourist sites and Avenida Liberdade’s high street boutiques and quality restaurants. Less than a 15 minute drive to Lisbon’s International Airport and within walking distance to major public transport links, the hotel is ideal for guests seeking a central yet serene location.
Meanwhile, the Park Atlantic Hotel Porto will also undergo a refurbishment and emerge as Crowne Plaza Porto this autumn. The hotel offers 161 deluxe rooms, 29 executive rooms and 42 suites, 11 meeting rooms and all-day dining restaurant.

Located in Porto’s business district on Avenida da Boavista, the hotel is just a 15 minute drive from the airport and a short walk away from Casa Da Música, Porto’s landmark cultural centre featuring a variety of exhibitions and shows. The hotel’s proximity to Porto’s commercial area will also appeal to business travellers frequenting the city.

Today history is made, a new Intellectual Property Act becomes law and it is now a crime to intentionally infringe a registered design. Individual Board Directors will also be held accountable. The changes which are set out in The Intellectual Property Act have been introduced to:

 Reduce the scale of registered design infringement by acting as a deterrent
 Increase protection for the holders of registered designs
 Better punish perpetrators of blatant design infringement. Individual Directors will also be liableIntentionally infringing a registered design and producing a copy that differs from an original in only immaterial respects now becomes a criminal offence punishable by up to ten years in prison. This is a significant development for designers but for the time being the change in the law will only assist those designers who have registered their designs at either the Intellectual Property Office in England or at the Community Design Office in Alicante. It does not cover unregistered designs.

The ACID (Anti-Copying in Design) campaign, spanning many years, consistently supported by case studies, demonstrated the scale of the problem and the objective was to address a shortfall in laws to protect designers. In 2011 Professor Hargreaves reported that Design and IP had been neglected. Government listened and The Prime Minister put Design and IP law (Ch7) as one of his ten recommendations. Following consultations, it was introduced in the Queen’s Speech in November 2013. ACID Members wrote to their MP’s to make them aware about the impact that design theft was having on the job security of their employees and the threat to their growth opportunities. Several ACID members also met with Government officials and Ministers to add their weight to the argument for reform. Following at times, a tricky route with opponents and, subsequently, through the House of Lords and then House of Commons the Bill received Queen’s Assent on 14th May 2014.

Nick Kounoupias, ACID’s Chief Legal Counsel and a partner at DMH Stallard said,
“This is the result of a genuine grass roots campaign and shows what can be done with a well presented case argued with integrity and honesty. To get fundamental legislation of this kind, in which copying of designs is made a criminal offence, from lobbying to law in less than 12 months is nothing short of phenomenal. Criminal sanctions for Registered design infringement should be seen as evolution not revolution and the proposed changes are sensible and pragmatic. However, we believe that Government should listen again to the powerful arguments for including unregistered designs.”

When the bill passed to committee stage Pete Wishart MP (Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary IP Group) commented “It is great that it covers Registered design rights—the great forgotten IP right. It is fantastic that ACID has at last got its way and that this will now be covered by criminal infringement provisions, but it is totally wrong that unregistered designs are not covered too.”

Rodney McMahon, MD of ACID Member Morgan Contract Furniture Ltd. said, “Strengthening of IP law can not only serve as a strong deterrent to copying, but also act as a real vehicle for growth, innovation and job certainty for those who create design originality.”

Dids Macdonald, ACID’s Chief Executive commented, “I welcome the fact that the IP Bill is a significant step in the right direction. However, there is still much work to be done because the majority of UK designers rely on unregistered rights. Way back in 1996 when ACID was just a round table action group, I gave a talk along with design law specialist and co-founder of ACID, Simon Clark, saying we needed design issues to be heard and acknowledged within Government and a change of law to bring design in line with copyright. Little did I think it would take 18 years to happen! Next step is to persuade Government to include unregistered designs, exemplary damages and unfair competition (At the moment our EU designer counterparts can turn to unfair competition laws if IP laws fail them).”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the upcoming opening of a new Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites in Tremblant in time for the 2015 winter ski season. Expected to open early 2015 and following a $3.2 million investment by the ownership, this property is located in the heart of the Tremblant pedestrian village, conveniently accessible to numerous ski lifts, restaurants and shops. IHG currently has 14 hotels open in Quebec Province with two more in the pipeline. Only a 90-minute drive from Montreal, the four-story, 141-room hotel includes a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, outdoor whirlpool bath (open year round), fitness room, sauna and complimentary high-speed Internet access. Business travellers can take advantage of the Tremblant Convention Centre in the heart of the pedestrian village, located only 100 meters away from the hotel. Perfect for hosting meetings and conferences the centre offers 12 meeting rooms, an integrated business centre, and catering services.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Tremblant, managed by Intrawest, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

“Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers,” said Heather Balsley, senior vice president, Americas Core Brands & Brand Operations, IHG. “With more than 2,200 properties worldwide and nearly 500 more in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express brand portfolio continues to provide our guests with an enhanced-stay experience at a great value.”

The Roca Group has bolstered its specification team with two promotions for current employees. Derek Hopwood and Robert Longstaff were both previously Area Sales Managers for the company and have now taken on new roles as Project Specification Managers.Robert has been with the Roca Group for over three years, and prior to this spent four years with Triton Showers in sales and specification as well as nine years with Coca Cola in similar sales roles.

Fellow new Project Specification Manager Derek Hopwood is just as experienced, having joined four years ago from Roman Showers where he was Area Sales Manager.

In their new roles, Robert and Derek will draw on their wealth of sales experience and in-depth knowledge of the Roca and Laufen brands and products in order to support architects and designers on the bathroom specifications for their non-residential projects.

Covering designated areas, Robert and Derek will take overall responsibility for ensuring customers experience a smooth transition from specification through to final installation.

“I am very much looking forward to taking on this new challenge,” comments Derek. “Both the Roca and Laufen brands have an unrivalled reputation for quality and innovation and, as Project Specification Managers, Robert and myself are responsible for maintaining this status, ensuring that the specification process runs smoothly and that customers are well supported throughout the design and installation process, regardless of the size of the job.”

Carlson Rezidor, one of the world’s largest and most dynamic hotel groups and the leading international hotel operator in Russia/CIS & Baltics, announces the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport in Russia’s capital. This is Carlson Rezidor’s seventh hotel in operation in Big Moscow and second in the Sheremetyevo International Airport. The new property on 391 rooms is the first and only in the Russian capital to be directly connected to the Airport terminals. The new Radisson Blu will offer direct skyway access to main terminals of the Sheremetyevo International Airport, one of the three major air hubs serving Moscow. This hotel opening brings the group’s portfolio in Russia to 30 hotels and more than 8,900 rooms in operation.

Rising above the airport terminals, the Radisson Blu makes a lasting impression on passengers arriving in Moscow. Beautifully designed by the famous Swedish designer, Christian Lundwall, in his signature Urban or New York Mansion House styles, the hotel offers 391 spacious rooms, including 16 Executive Suites, 16 Junior Suites and 60 Business Class Rooms. A fully equipped fitness centre, Finnish sauna and the Turkish hamam are all designed to help guests relax after a long flight.

With an unrivalled location at Sheremetyevo Airport, the Radisson Blu Hotel is ideal for a wide range of events. The hotel offers a total of 1,800 square meters of event space, featuring 48 fully equipped conference rooms, including five boardrooms and a 200-square-metre ballroom. The hotel offers Radisson Blu’s signature Experience Meeting service as well as Free Wireless High-speed Internet access and professional event support. Whether hosting an exclusive board meeting or a lavish gala, the hotel can satisfy any necessities.

Food lovers will enjoy the all-day Stratosphere restaurant where breakfasts, lunches or dinners are served. The Altitude bar and grill restaurant, located on the 11th floor offers amazing panoramic views to the landing field of the Airport, while the Meeting Point Lobby Bar serves as the perfect place to sip a cup of coffee with friends or colleagues.

“I am truly excited to open the stunning Radisson Blu Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. As the first and only hotel that will be directly connected to the Sheremetyevo Airport terminal with 48 meeting rooms, world-class Food & Drinks facilities and 391 designer guestrooms, Radisson Blu Sheremetyevo Airport is setting a whole new standard and trend for meetings and events in Moscow. With a unique location, we can offer ultimate convenience to our global travellers, as they can meet, dine or just relax literally five minutes after luggage pick-up at the airport.”- Gerard Kelly, General Manager at Radisson Blu Hotel, Sheremetyevo Airport.

The city of Moscow boasts the most luxurious boutiques, restaurants and shops, making it one of the most expensive cities in the world. Russia’s capital city is experiencing a burst of creative energy, evident in all aspects of contemporary culture. Former factories and deserted warehouses have been converted into edgy art galleries and intriguing underground clubs. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport is just minutes away by train, from enjoying all the sights and sounds of Moscow.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has announced its seventh multiple development agreement (MDA) in Germany with existing owner partner Sierra Hotel Management Ltd. The first property already signed under the agreement is Holiday Inn Express® Karlsruhe – City Park, due to open in mid-2016. Holiday Inn Express Karlsruhe – City Park marks the first hotel out of a total of five hotels in the agreement. The newly constructed hotel will feature 115 rooms, three multifunctional meeting rooms and ample car parking spaces for guests.

Holiday Inn Express Karlsruhe – City Park will occupy a prime location on Zimmerstrasse at the entrance to the city of Karlsruhe, which is home to the German Federal Constitutional Court, a number of large companies and several research institutions. The city is well connected to Frankfurt, Munich, Freiburg, Basel and Paris and the hotel is within close proximity to the largest redevelopment being undertaken in the area.

René Schappner, Director of Development for Germany, IHG said: “We’re thrilled to have signed our seventh MDA with Sierra and this growth engine is going to greatly help accelerate our shared development goals for Germany.”

Uwe Aschke, CEO of Sierra Hotel Management Ltd. said: “Holiday Inn Express is a strong hotel brand with fantastic growth potential in Germany. We’re excited about the multiple development agreement with IHG. The new Holiday Inn Express in Karlsruhe is a significant milestone in the company’s growth strategy.”

Leading UK shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, will be showcasing their unique project capabilities at this year’s Sleep Event which takes place on the 26th – 27th November 2014, you will find Roman on Stand M35A. Roman’s eighth appearance at the Sleep Event will see them present their collection of products specifically designed to present the company’s bespoke ability and vast experience within the Project market.

The Roman stand will demonstrate products from their 10mm Decem range designed in some of the most popular specifications unique to the Hotel sector. The Decem collection has been created and designed with the Project market in mind. The luxury collection presents a range of design options, with an exceptional choice of hardware and handle options, optional bracing supplied as standard and a choice of concealed or exposed wall profiles on the wetroom panels.

The Decem range is available in a standard range but the collection also offers a wide range of bespoke options, perfectly tailored for the Hotel market, which will be shown at the Sleep Event. Roman can create products over height – up to 2.7 metres tall, the glass can be cut at an angle, products are available in various sizes and footprints, various glass finishes are available and also a choice of handles and hardware.

Specific products on the Roman stand include a very popular ‘Peek-a-boo’ effect bathroom with frosted glass on the toilet cubicle. The ‘Peek-a-boo’ effect presents a combined toilet and showering cubicle. In addition Roman is showing an over height lockable glass door, which creates a glass bathroom partition door and offers the feature of a lock.

An over height Decem Shower Enclosure that will stand at a stunning height of 2440mm will also be shown on the Roman stand. A Curved Wetroom Panel is included on the stand, which will stand at 2000mm high with toughened 8mm thick glass, it fits standard rectangular shower trays with an adjustable foot, which is extremely popular within the hotel market.
Presented on the stand will be Roman’s Shimmer Shower Trays, which are low level and feature a stunning shimmer finish, included on the stand will be the black, grey and white shimmer finishes.

David Osborne, Managing Director of Roman, commented: “The excitement of exhibiting at this year’s Sleep Event is already in the air here at Roman. The Sleep Event is our prime opportunity to showcase some of our specifications and designs that we have developed, to suit various projects. We offer a diverse range of solutions, with something that will work within any designers’ brief and the possibilities we can offer through our ranges are limitless. We hope to once again receive the positive reactions and feedback we do year after year at the event.”

With a chic blend of culture and cuisine, art and architecture, Sofitel So Singapore has opened its doors in the heart of the Singapore CBD with a unique collaboration with world-renowned designer Karl Lagerfeld. Sofitel So Singapore offers guests a luxury hotel experience that is ‘So Singapore’, housed within an iconic heritage building built in 1927 on Robinson Road.Designed by Singapore’s only French design house, MIAJA Design Group, led by award-winning designer, Isabelle Miaja. Sofitel So Singapore consists of 134 exquisitely designed rooms located within a So Hip wing and a So Heritage wing.

Masterfully-created commissioned objects featuring Karl Lagerfeld’s “The Lion’s Seal” emblem are spotted throughout the hotel including the BooKube and Door Knockers on the So Heritage Wing and the bespoke bathrobe featuring the red and white ‘The Lion’s Seal’ embroidery. When guests enter the hotel they are greeted by Karl Lagerfeld with the front-of-house ambassadors dressed in garde-robe straight from the fashion designer’s namesake collection.

Marriott International, Inc has announced plans to expand its Autograph Collection portfolio in Europe with exciting new additions in Zurich, Switzerland and Barcelona, Spain. Opening next year, the one-of-a-kind hotels will represent the debut of the exclusive portfolio of independent hotels in each city.When opened in spring 2015, the new 245-room Kameha Grand Zurich will represent the first Autograph Collection hotel to open in Switzerland. Featuring stunning architecture and world class interior design by acclaimed Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, the hotel will be operated by Kameha Grand Glattpark Betriebsgeselleschaft mbH. The hotel is widely recognized for its eleven “themed” suites exclusively designed for the hotel by Wanders, including a “Poker Face” suite with roulette and poker tables and a “Serenity” suite featuring special lighting and select yoga and wellness accessories. John Licence added, “With its creative design and playful personality, Kameha Grand Zurich truly captures the spirit of Autograph Collection.”

The hotel boasts three unique options for dining: Restaurant L’Unico featuring fresh homemade pasta and Italian specialties prepared in an open show-kitchen; fine dining Japanese restaurant Yu Nijo; and the Puregold Bar. As a fun twist, the hotel features its own shisha lounge, offering a robust line of full-flavored Arabic shisha and tobacco. The hotel offers a wide selection of meeting and special event space, including eight distinct rooms in various sizes. The highlight of the meeting space is the Kameha Dome, a unique 700 square meter space, perfect for larger gatherings. Widely known for its world-class shopping, dining and entertainment, Zurich has become increasingly well recognized as an international art destination, offering more than 100 art galleries, making the city among the top ten gallery cities in the art trade.

Also set to open in the spring of 2015, The Cotton House, Barcelona, will be located in an iconic 19th century building in the heart of the city center formerly known as the headquarters of the Association of Cotton Manufacturers.

The 83-room boutique hotel will feature unique public spaces including several unique lounge areas, a rooftop pool and terrace, as well as a lush garden terrace area for dining and drinks. A large number of rooms feature balconies to take in the view and recharge after exploring the city. Interior design for the hotel is being crafted by the renowned Lázaro Rosa Violán studio. The design will be inspired by the decorative arts of the building’s original architecture while ensuring a luxury experience for the guests.

The concept of the Cotton House will be to deliver exquisite guest experiences in a cool colonial style with the spirit of Barcelona in its heart.

The vision behind the Autograph Collection is to offer an evolving group of passionately independent hotel experiences ranging from a 15-room boutique hunting lodge in the mountains of Colorado to a 19th century neoclassical palace in the majestic city of Prague. Exactly like nothing else, each hotel is thoughtfully chosen for its quality, originality, bold character and capacity to offer today’s modern traveler a range of unique experiences suited to their individual sense of style and adventure. While still relatively new, the distinct portfolio has proven to be a highly successful venture due to its discerning selection process and unique ability to create memories through enriching travel experiences.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has recently announced the opening of its second property in Hermosillo – the Holiday Inn® Hotel & Suites Hermosillo Aeropuerto, following an investment of more than $10 million by its ownership Inmuebles el Sahuaro, S.A. de C.V. Owned and managed by Inmuebles el Sahuaro, S.A. de C.V., the hotel is franchised by an affiliate of IHG and is located at Jesus Garcia Morales Avenue, between Blvd Antonio Quiroga and Agustin Gomez del Campo street, a few minutes from the airport, key shopping centers and industrial parks.

The 119-room Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Hermosillo Aeropuerto hotel includes 19 junior suites with a king sized bed, a kitchenette with microwave, mini-refrigerator, kitchen tableware and utensils. The hotel design features a familiar atmosphere that is warm, trend forward and comfortable. Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” Rooms also include business-focused necessities such as an ergonomic workstation, data ports and complimentary local newspapers. The bathrooms include a multifunctional showerhead, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod, and bath products. Additionally, each room has a comfortable double, queen or king-sized bed, a sitting area with a lounge chair, hairdryer, coffee maker, iron and ironing board.

Other amenities include an outdoor swimming pool, a fully equipped fitness center, three meeting rooms with a capacity for up to 300 people, and complementary airport shuttle service. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s restaurant open for breakfast, lunch or dinner; or relax at the El Viñedo Bar. Kids 12 and younger eat free at Holiday Inn hotels when ordering from the kids’ menu in the hotel restaurant and accompanied by a dining adult. Room Service Right.,,On TimeTM, also a standard at all Holiday Inn hotels in Mexico, ensures that guests’ room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the signing of Four Points by Sheraton Istanbul Dudullu, a franchise agreement with Ever Group. The new-build hotel, scheduled to open at the end of 2014, will mark the entry of the Four Points by Sheraton brand into Turkey and will be the first Starwood hotel to open on the Asian side of Istanbul. “We are very happy, once again, to be working with Starwood on a second Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Istanbul and Turkey, said Selen Ersü, Ever Group Chairman and CEO. “Four Points by Sheraton Istanbul Dudullu will provide us with a great opportunity to strengthen our presence in a prime location in Istanbul. Dudullu is the industrial heart of the Istanbul Asia Region and covers three million square metres of industrial area, offering great potential for business development.”

“We are delighted to reinforce our collaboration with Ever Group, Selen’s passion for the tourism industry and Turkish football clubs makes him a perfect partner to introduce the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Turkey,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “The hotel will mark Starwood’s entry into the Asian side of Istanbul and become an ideal leisure spot to watch the most exciting sporting events while enjoying a fine selection of local brews.”

Located in IMES, Turkey’s largest industrial area in Dudullu, Four Points by Sheraton Istanbul Dudullu will be a 20 minute drive from Sabiha Gokcen Airport with direct access to the Trans-European Motorway (TEM) and the Bosporus Bridge. The 182-room property will be one of the largest hotels on the Asian side of Istanbul, providing a convenient business option for the 1,000-plus companies in its surrounding area.

Part of a multi-use complex and adjacent to a large wholesale store, Four Points by Sheraton Istanbul Dudullu will have an all-day dining restaurant, bar and fitness centre. Event facilities will include four meeting rooms and three small boardrooms.

The hotel features all of the brand’s defining elements including the Four Comfort Bed™ and free bottled water in all rooms and suites, complimentary Wi-Fi in all public areas, an energising breakfast and local beers with Best Brews™, helping guests start and end the day right.

The interior design of the hotel has been awarded to Kreatif Mimarlik, a renowned Turkish consultancy with extensive hotel design experience including Sheraton Atakoy in Istanbul, as well as upcoming Sheraton hotels in Samsun and Istanbul’s Atasehir district.

“Responding to the demand for affordable yet innovative lodging options is core to our development strategy,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vice President Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. “Four Points by Sheraton has one of the strongest pipelines in Starwood’s global portfolio and offers a compelling blend of comfort, style and affordability, making it increasingly attractive for owners and developers,” he said.

There are currently 10 Starwood hotels representing five brands, in operation across Turkey, of which four are located in Istanbul: Sheraton Istanbul Maslak Hotel, Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy Hotel, W Istanbul, and Le Méridien Istanbul Etiler. In the first quarter of 2015, Starwood will debut the St. Regis brand in Turkey with The St. Regis Istanbul. In 2015, the company will also open Sheraton Istanbul Atasehir on the Asian side of the city, as well as enter the emerging coastal city of Samsun with Sheraton Samsun Hotel. Starwood will grow the Four Points by Sheraton brand in Turkey in 2015 with the new Four Points by Sheraton Istanbul Batisehir Hotel, another franchise project with Ever Group.

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., announced that its W Hotels brand will debut its third hotel in Thailand with W Retreat Phuket – Phang Nga Bay. Scheduled to open in January 2018, the W Retreat is owned by Dr. Wutthisak Limphanit, Thailand’s renowned medical doctor and skincare entrepreneur. With the surge of luxury travelers throughout the region, Asia Pacific is home to three W Retreat properties, including W Retreat & Spa Maldives; W Retreat Koh Samui; and W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak. In addition to W Retreat Phuket in the pipeline, W Retreat & Spa Goa is on track to open in 2015.

Redefining luxury with its innovative design, signature amenities and unique style, W Retreat Phuket will be located on Koh Yao Noi, one of the largest islands in the Phang Nga Bay archipelago between the eastern coast of Phuket and western coast of Krabi on the mainland. The W Retreat will provide an integrated lifestyle experience with 79 standalone villas, starting from 155 square meters in space. All villas will feature private outdoor areas and plunge pools as well as superlative views of the limestone cliffs that dot Phang Nga Bay.

W Retreat Phuket – Phang Nga Bay will also offer a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant and a specialty restaurant and bar. It will feature 120 square metres of modern meeting and event space; FIT, a well-equipped workout facility and swimming pool; and a contemporary spa with six treatment rooms. The W Retreat will be accessible from both Phuket International Airport (HKT) and Krabi Airport (KBV), with a fleet of high speed sea vessels, a private jetty and helicopter landing pad for ease of guests transfers.

Singapore-based Ministry of Design (MOD) has been appointed as the architect and interior designer for the hotel. With an expansive international project portfolio, MOD continues to garner international accolades for its design directions. Recent awards include Best Luxury Hotel from Gold Key Awards, New York, 2013, Designer of the Year from the International Design Awards, USA, and Top 10 Asia Pacific Designers from the IAI Design Awards, Shanghai.

With W Retreat Phuket – Phang Nga Bay in the pipeline, Starwood Hotels will further expand its presence in Thailand, where the company currently operates 23 properties under eight of its nine distinct brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W Hotels®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Aloft®, ElementSM and Four Points® by Sheraton. This October 2014, Starwood will add another Le Méridien Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Golf Resort & Spa to its growing portfolio, and upon opening, W Retreat Phuket – Phang Nga Bay will be the latest addition to Starwood’s three properties in Phuket, including Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort, The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa and The Naka Island, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Phuket.

InterContinental® Hotels Group (IHG®) has recently opened the Hotel Indigo® Paris – Opera at the heart of the capital’s entertainment district. The new hotel marks a milestone for the brand as the 60th Hotel Indigo hotel globally, opening in the brand’s 10th anniversary year. The 57-room Hotel Indigo Paris – Opera is set in the elegant Opera quartier of Paris. Encircled by the most prestigious theatres, music halls and opera houses in France – as well as lesser-known but equally enthralling venues –the area was shaped by Haussmann and is best known for its ornate opera house: The Palais Garnier, which provided the inspiration for Gaston Leroux’s world famous ‘Phantom of the Opera’.

As IHG’s boutique brand, every Hotel Indigo property is designed to reflect the local neighbourhood. From the building design to the hotel’s artwork to the locally inspired menus, every Hotel Indigo is unique to its surroundings, so no two hotels are the same. Hotel Indigo Paris – Opera truly reflects the fabric of its neighbourhood. Unique touches echo the area’s cultural charm and opulent architecture throughout the hotel.

Vincent Poulingue, General Manager, Hotel Indigo Paris – Opera comments, “Hotel Indigo Paris – Opera is located right at the heart of the action. Paris is brimming with history and culture, and this neighbourhood provides the perfect base for exploring our enchanting city. We look forward to welcoming guests and helping them to explore both the famous landmarks and hidden gems located on every corner.”

Tom Rowntree, Vice President Brand Management Upscale & Luxury Brands, Europe
IHG said, “We’re proud to be opening our first Hotel Indigo in France in the key location of Paris. The hotel has been designed to reflect all of the charm and style of this fashionable and dynamic city, to give guests a truly Parisian experience. The Hotel Indigo brand continues to grow from strength to strength. We opened Hotel Indigo Madrid – Gran Via, Hotel Indigo Rome – St. George and Hotel Indigo St. Petersburg Tchaikovskogo earlier this year and have a further 13* hotels in the pipeline.”

Hotel Indigo Paris Opera will operate under a management agreement between IHG and SAS Maud.

A Shade Above has recently launched a beautiful new lamp in a traditional yet contemporary style. It has been specifically designed with lampshade shapes in mind to be versatile. Lamp bases and bespoke handmade lampshades are available from A Shade Above at design@ashadeabove.co.uk or 01273 881130.The ‘Regency’ lampbase is shown here looking beautiful with three different soft lampshades featuring delicate pleats and gathers – the large drum in a wide knife pleat with contrasting silk trim and lining, a small empire in a delicate cream silk gather, and a contemporary oval shape in a silk chiffon gather.

The ‘Regency’ lamp is available in three finishes, nickel, blackened brass and brass. The finish and height can be adapted to special order.

A Shade Above is nearly 30 years old and specialises in exquisite handmade bespoke lampshades and lighting for the interior design and lighting industries.

Accor, the world’s leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, is pleased to announce two prime location London hotels, right in the centre of Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, following the signing of a franchise agreement with Criterion Capital Group who will develop the two properties.This is further proof of Accor’s focus on the UK market where it has announced the openings of 23 hotels in the past 2 years.

ibis Styles Piccadilly Circus, will be located within Criterion Capital’s world famous Trocadero complex, at the very heart of London’s famous West End. The 583 room hotel will open in 2017, following an extensive renovation of the existing building, and will offer a distinctly ‘London’ personality reflecting the colourful, bright and energetic brand persona of the ibis Styles brand, with a hint of humour perfectly matching the electric eccentricity of the Trocadero. The historic London landmark’s proximity to leisure, commercial and retail areas within the West End is second to none and will become a go-to location for London travellers.

The ibis Styles brand is providing dynamic growth for Accor with a network that comprises over 250 budget hotels in 21 countries. Guests are offered the “best of the best” with an all inclusive package that offers room rates, breakfast and internet access.

MGallery Leicester Square, an 80 room hotel within Criterion Capital’s beautiful Victory House, a heritage site overlooking Leicester Square – the cultural epicenter of London, is scheduled to be opened at the end of 2016. Located amidst London’s leading theatres, designer boutiques and top restaurants, the upscale boutique hotel, which will form part of the MGallery Collection, is the ideal choice for those wanting a distinctive experience in the heart of the vibrant West End. The hotel’s unique personality will exude through its architecture, deluxe interior design and exemplary services.

Criterion Capital is the largest landlord in the Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus corridor.

The two properties will be developed by Criterion Capital and Accor under a franchise agreement.

Thomas Dubaere, Managing Director, Accor UK & Ireland, said: “We are delighted with these two new locations in the heart of London, further advancing our ambitious UK expansion plans. The hotels will take inspiration from the buzz and excitement of Soho – the most vibrant neighbourhood in the world – and will bring a new lease of life to these historically significant London sites.

“We are pleased to be able to extend our relationship with Criterion by offering a franchise agreement. Accor is a trusted partner committed to its growing franchise network and these new franchises are further proof of the strength of the Accor brands.”

Asif Aziz, from Criterion Capital, said : “We are pleased to work with Accor. These two hotel projects are part of our strategy for Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus and demonstrate the ongoing attraction of Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus to the capital’s visitors.”

Crosswater will be showcasing a host of high-style, superb quality designer bathroom brassware, basins, furniture and accessories for the hotel and high end residential bathroom sector. Crosswater, which includes Bauhaus bathroom furniture and Simpsons shower enclosures and wet rooms, works in close partnership with key regional retailers to provide bathroom design, supply and fit. Its recent high-profile partnership with Kelly Hoppen MBE has seen six new brassware ranges alone in the last 12 months.

Mike Pro brassware, showers, and now accessories too – is the range designed particularly for luxury homes and 5 star hotel bathrooms. Manufactured to an exacting design lines Mike Pro has been specified in some of the UKs best known hotel groups.

David Balmer, Crosswater’s Hospitality Senior Projects Manager explains. “This is our third year at Sleep, it was actually talking to buyers, interior designers and architects at Sleep and listening to the requirements of the industry that led David Hance (Group Chairman and Head Designer at Crosswater) to design Mike Pro.

The stand will include first looks at new brassware, ceramic, sanitary ware, shower valves and enclosures, the sumptuous Belgravia, Crosswater’s authentic period collection of brassware and a surprise or two.

Yorkshire brand Roomzzz Aparthotel have recently acquired their ninth site. Known for their progressive expansion throughout the UK, the brand have announced their purchase of The Welbeck Hotel in Nottingham. In a move outside the brand’s usual remit – Roomzzz Aparthotel are currently operating The Welbeck Hotel prior to a £3M refurbishment which will commence in January 2015. The hotel which currently hosts 96 bedrooms was bought out of administration by Roomzzz Aparthotel in July 2014 and will be eventually transformed into Roomzzz Nottingham City. The new £3M scheme will feature individual apartments, complete with kitchens and living areas in keeping with core brand values.

Roomzzz are also promising luxury penthouse suites in this scheme as an exciting addition and enhancement to the building’s features. Mark Walton Head of Roomzzz Aparthotel UK comments ‘the heritage of the Welbeck Hotel is an important one in the Nottingham area. We are pleased to have been able to preserve the building’s use for accommodation and look forward to reviving the building and consequently the area through our refurbishment process’.

Roomzzz have conducted guest surveys in the lead up to the purchase and results show that both business and leisure travellers have requested a Midlands Roomzzz Aparthotel. Walton continues ‘Nottingham is a key area for us – we have been seeking out an opportunity to plug a gap in the marketplace in this area and with this are pleased to raise the bar on Nottingham’s accommodation offering as a premier but affordable alternative to hotels with this site. We are confident that Roomzzz Nottingham City will boost Nottingham’s economy in terms of the calibre of professional and long stay guests Roomzzz Aparthotel attracts.’

The purchase of the Welbeck Hotel site brings the Roomzzz City count to seven with nine proprieties in total. In 2015 Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle will be joined by Chester, Nottingham, London and Liverpool. The expansion of the brand has been strategic to meet up with demand, with a proven track record to enhance an area. Roomzzz guests are typically professionals and international guests looking for a longer term stay than a hotel can reasonably offer. Guests are encouraged to stay longer term with the convenience of a kitchen, living and dining rooms within the apartments making for a home from home environment’. Roomzzz sites are successful showcases of Aparthotels can benefit a City by attracting high spend and longer staying visitors.

Roomzzz Nottingham City is scheduled to open at the beginning of 2015.

Designing good lighting for hotels is about more than creating stylish products that are on trend and look the part. It’s about top quality products that provide efficient lighting and enhance the guest experience, whether through multifunctional guestroom lighting or bold public area statement pieces. Lighting really does make or break the traveller’s hotel experience, something which is illustrated by recent extensive research conducted by Osram suggesting that of 10,000 recent hotel reviews in London most guests complained about the dim, bad and sparse lighting in their rooms. Accordingly when we design either our standard lighting collection or bespoke pieces, we do so from multiple perspectives; either from that of the hotelier, the interior designer and above all else the guest.

1. Aesthetics
The first thing to consider is the aesthetic of the product, does it look the part and fit in with the overall design concept? Interior designers are pushing the boundaries more than ever before, always looking to create unique interior schemes for hotels that offer something different and inevitably lighting is an essential part of that. It’s often asked whether table or floor lamps can make a difference in a guestroom or are they surplus to requirement. Well they most certainly can by adding ambient lighting and creating atmosphere in what has become an increasingly multifunctional space.

Following the latest industry trends and ultimately trying to pre-empt them is a critical part of the design process. Nobody wants to specify outdated products so we try to recognise emerging trends as early as possible and use them to inspire our collection. Take the Bullet range for example, we identified that retro styling and industrial cues were becoming big news on the interior design scene, so we designed the range based on retro styling from the 1960’s with an assortment of finish options to appeal to our international client base. To mix the wish of the guest who wants enough light and the wish of the hotelier who wants low energy costs, it had to be LED with an integral 6watt LED chipboard located behind a frosted diffuser in order to give soft light with no glare. Contract functionality means solid steel and brass construction, locking swivel joints with toothed locking key for secure arm position. The multi-swivelling head enables guests to control the position of the light whilst the weighted base houses the LED driver and ventilation holes in the head ensure that barely any warmth is emitted from the light source.

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Construction works are underway on Artisan Real Estate Investors Caltongate development at East Market Street where they are building two hotels for Whitbread PLC as part of their development site in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town.This phase of the development includes a 127-room Premier Inn and a 130-room Hub by Premier Inn, Whitbread’s innovative new ‘compact’ hotel format with construction works anticipated as being completed in early in 2016.

Lawrence McPherson Associates are acting as architectural consultant on brand delivery on behalf of Whitbread for both hotels.

Stephen McGhee, Principal at Lawrence McPherson Associates said “This is an exciting development to be part of and we are particularly excited about being the first Hub by Premier Inn being constructed outside London.”

“This compact concept is innovative in its design. Not only are the rooms only 11.4sq.m with every centre metre optimised but it will be the UK’s first hotel with its own app which allows guests control their hotel experience by controlling the temperature, lighting and TV from their smart phones.”

Taken from the Lawrence McPherson Associates news area

BAGNODESIGN has recently completed the supply of a truly distinct property set deep within the Al Hajar mountain range in Oman. Alila Jabal Akhdar is surrounded by awe-inspiring views of untouched beauty and offers guests an idyllic retreat in the height of comfort and luxury.This spectacular region is the ideal location for such a unique hotel, boasting 78 suites and villas designed with earthy tones of wood and stone. BAGNODESIGN’s product portfolio perfectly complements the property’s interior which surrounds guests with just the right balance of contemporary style and the authentic flavours of Oman’s rich history and culture. The customised brassware and accessories accent the hotel’s bold yet warm hues, resulting in charming bathroom spaces – a haven of relaxation complete with modern conveniences.

Guy Wilson, Managing Director of Projects at BAGNODESIGN, commented: “We are delighted to be involved in a project of this nature. At BAGNODESIGN, we believe in investing in strategic relationships, built on trust and support, to ensure that the needs of our clients and partners, most of whom are exclusive within the markets in which we operate, surpass expectation time after time.”

Located within the main hotel building or arranged in individual clusters, the suites and villas are generously spaced out around the magnificent cliff top. This resort is the ultimate in seclusion, while at the same time, offers uninterrupted views of the dramatic gorge down below.

For more details contact BAGNODESIGN on (UK 44)020 7553 6999, or visit the website at www.bagnodesign.co.uk

St. Regis® Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., has recently announced the highly anticipated opening of The St. Regis Chengdu. Debuting exactly 110 years after the first St. Regis hotel in New York City opened its doors in 1904, The St. Regis Chengdu continues the legacy of the luxury brand thoughtfully built for a new generation of global travellers. With this opening, St. Regis reaches 33 hotels around the world.As the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China, Chengdu has evolved from an ancient city with rich cultural traditions to one known around the world as ‘the Silicon Valley of China’ – a vital hub for world commerce and home to more than 252 Fortune 500 companies. The St. Regis Chengdu, ideally located at the intersection of Chengdu’s business and luxury retail districts, and steps away from Tianfu Square and Chun Xi Road, creates a home for today’s entrepreneurial traveller with 279 luxuriously appointed guestrooms and suites artfully designed to blend the residential Art Deco style of the 1920s with traditional elements of Sichuan culture and discreet state-of-the-art technology.

In a nod to the city’s epicurean pedigree as UNESCO’s first City of Gastronomy in Asia, The St. Regis Chengdu features six distinct restaurants and lounges, including Social, a signature all-day dining restaurant; Yan Ting, a specialty Chinese restaurant featuring authentic Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine; Yun Fu, with four distinct private dining rooms on Level 27; Decanter, Chengdu’s only dedicated wine bar with an extensive selection of fine wine labels, liquors and aged cigars; Vantage XXVII, an outdoor sky bar with spectacular city skyline; and The Drawing Room, offering the signature St. Regis afternoon tea and champagne sabering ritual as well as the Chuan Mary, a spicier version of the famous St. Regis Bloody Mary cocktail, re-imagined for Chengdu with Sichuan peppercorn oil and pickled chili.

With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, The St. Regis Chengdu also provides the perfect venue for events with over 11,840 square feet of meeting spaces, accommodating both intimate social and high-level corporate gatherings with the uncompromising service for which St. Regis is known. For discerning global guests seeking an exclusive and exceptional venue to celebrate life’s memorable occasions, the Astor Ballroom is the most glamorous space for a wedding ceremony and reception.

The newest Iridium Spa®, exclusive to St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, offers a blissful experience including nine treatment rooms, sauna and steam rooms, and a modern fitness centre. Offering the latest in treatments, the tranquil spa offers customised indulgence that surpasses the discerning tastes of St. Regis guests. St. Regis is the only luxury hotel in Chengdu to offer both indoor and outdoor swimming pools for in-house guests and St. Regis Athletic Club members.

Returning to the Sleep Event for a second year, Roca will be presenting its latest bathroom innovations, all of which help those in the hotel and hospitality industry create luxurious, design-led spaces. Roca has developed a variety of market-leading solutions that ensure the hotel bathroom is comfortable for guests, while fulfilling practical requirements for hoteliers too.

Visitors to Stand 1 will be among the first to see the manufacturer’s distinctively styled Singles Open mixer tap. Simple to operate via a push-back lever on the top of the tap, a hole in the end of the spout of the mixer enables water to be delivered in a circular pattern, for the ultimate style statement in the modern hotel bathroom.

With a powerful flow rate of 6.5 litres per minute, Singles Open features Roca’s innovative SoftTurn technology, to deliver the highest levels of smoothness, comfort and precision when choosing the desired water flow and temperature levels.

Also on display will be Roca’s CleanRim The Gap WC, which can now be wall-hung to ensure ease of cleaning inside and out. Designed by Antonio Bullo, the rimless design of the CleanRim The Gap WC means there is simply nowhere for germs or bacteria to gather. Maximising on hygiene levels in the hotel bathroom, its wall-hung design also makes cleaning the outer surface of the pan and the floor beneath a much simpler task.

The In-Tank Meridian WC, the first of its kind to integrate the cistern into the pan, making it the ideal solution for compact bathroom settings, will also be on display. Featuring a transparent window in the WC bowl, the special design will help visitors visualise the built-in cistern and better understand the cutting-edge technology.

Roca will also present its latest washbasin designs, with both on-counter and under-counter models on display, demonstrating the versatility of the brand’s offering, as well as its range of brassware solutions. Shower heads and valves will feature on a dedicated display pod, while the all-important finishing touches of a bathroom’s design are also covered by the manufacturer’s range of accessories designed specifically for hotels.

See Roca on Stand 1 at the Sleep Event, from 26-27 November at the Business Design Centre, London.

The next Hotel Summit will be taking place on the 13th & 14th July at the Radisson Blu, London Stansted. The event is the perfect platform for Hoteliers and solution providers to get together for two days of networking, interactive seminars and pre agreed face to face meetings – enabling time restricted hoteliers to see what’s new in the industry and update their knowledge.Lee Jamieson – Editor, Hotel Industry Magazine will be opening the event and hosting a presentation called Positioning for Success in 2015.

The UK hotel sector exits in a disruptive market, and an increased level of disruption is expected in the long-term. How prepared is your business to capitalise on this changing market? Lee Jamieson reviews the key research and industry interviews conducted day-to-day at Hotel Industry Magazine to reveal the trends that are set to shape the hotel sector in 2015 … and beyond.

Keep checking back for updated news and speakers.

For more information if you are a hotelier looking to attend or a solution provider wishing to promote your company please contact Kate Hermans on 01992 374049 or k.hermans@forumevents.co.uk

This September, Crosswater will be exhibiting at #DesignPopUp, an exhibition which showcases emerging trends from the UK leading suppliers to the architecture and design community. In its second year, the event is being held at the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh, close to the Royal Mile in the heart of the city. #DesignPopUp offers its partners the opportunity to display and present their latest innovations and products through a series of private views, an evening launch, CPDs and numerous side events that will be organised over the three weeks to attract architects, designers and specifiers based in Edinburgh and surrounding areas.This year Crosswater has partnered with the exhibition, and will be showcasing the innovative Crosswater Digital range, the designer KH Zero collections from Kelly Hoppen MBE, the elegantly traditional Belgravia range, and finally not forgetting Mike Pro – created and designed especially for architects and interior designers.

The #DesignPopUp will run from 24th September – 9th October, Monday – Friday, 10:30am – 5pm. For more info visit www.designpopup.com.

IHG has recently announced a new Holiday Inn Resort hotel for Pagosa Springs, Colo. This comes on the heels of a new hotel for Gulfport, Miss. adding to the growing global Holiday Inn Resort® brand portfolio, currently at 40 properties worldwide. Additionally, the brand earlier this year celebrated an opening in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and a new hotel under construction on Jekyll Island, Ga.The Holiday Inn Resort Pagosa Springs hotel is slated to open by summer 2015, and will have 101 guest rooms including 11 suites. Nestled in the San Juan Mountains, guests can enjoy access to activities available year round such as golfing, rafting, horseback riding and ATV rides. Additionally, skiing and snowboarding activities are available nearby at Wolf Creek Ski Area – boasting more average annual snowfall than any other resort in Colorado. The largest snowmobile tour company in the area – Wolfcreek Snowmobile Tours – also operates out of the resort.

The 150-room Holiday Inn Resort Gulfport is slated to open by year end 2015 and will be the first major tenant for the beachfront Centennial Plaza development – poised to have significant economic impact and boost job creation as well as drive tourism to the area and the surrounding Gulf Islands National Seashore. The property has also been included on the National Register of Historic Places.

Leading UK shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has introduced two new impressive Colossus Shower Enclosures to their toughened 8mm thick glass range, Lumin8. The two new additions to the Lumin8 collection are the 1700mm Colossus and the 1450mm Colossus, both will create an eye-catching feature in the bathroom. They stand at an elegant height of 1950mm with toughened 8mm thick glass, feature a bright silver frame, chrome top caps and incorporate 25mm vertical adjustment.

The Lumin8 1700mm Colossus is a direct bath replacement Enclosure, which occupies the same wall dimensions as a standard UK bath. The curvaceous nature of the Colossus means it bows out into the room to create a spacious and indulgent showering area. The Enclosure provides an effortless showering solution, with doors eliminated offering a wide and easy door less entry. It imitates a wetroom in its styling, whilst providing a more enclosed showering area, which is preferred in the UK bathroom. Due to requests from Retailers and Designers the new version can also be fitted against one wall to make awkward bathroom renovations easy.

Whilst the 1700mm is a direct bath replacement (due to the 700mm wall fixing at each end of the tray) the Lumin8 1450mm Colossus offers a luxurious curved Walk-In option in and around standard shower enclosure footprints. The curved panel ensures that the showering area is maximised at all times.

Both the 1700mm and 1450mm Colossus have their own dedicated shower trays, which provide sweeping level access with 50mm nominal height. They are manufactured at the Roman Headquarters in their Tray Plant from Roman Stone using Solid Surface Technology. The complete Lumin8 Tray range is suitable for use with power shower systems and carries away 25 litres of water per minute. These shower trays feature different finish options including a gloss or matt finish and if you would like a unique look Roman now offer original shimmer finishes in glittering black, grey or white. The Colossus can also be installed straight to floor using the Roman Wetroom Shield System, which includes everything you need to tank a room, including complete wetroom kits to make the process easy.

As with all Roman Enclosures, Wetroom Panels and Bath Screens, the new Lumin8 Colossus Shower Enclosures will be manufactured in the UK. All products also feature Roman’s pre-coated glass protection as standard, for easy cleaning and lasting clarity. They also carry Roman’s service backed Truelife Lifetime Guarantee.

David Osborne, Managing Director of Roman, commented: “We are delighted to launch two new versions of our Colossus Shower Enclosure to provide people with the option of a bath replacement enclosure or a standard footprint shower enclosure. In 2001 we were the first in the industry to offer a bath replacement enclosure and we are very proud to be introducing these new luxury versions into our 8mm collection.”

Comfortable rooms featuring cool urban design, staff wearing Converse trainers, cutting-edge Samsung technology and a great location. A visit to the new ibis Adelaide hotel!Built by the owners of the Hines Property group, ibis Adelaide is the most innovative economy hotel in Australia today.

A connected hotel
This brand-new landmark hotel is attracting attention thanks to the street art by graffiti artist GhostPatrol on its walls and the cutting-edge Samsung technology available in the rooms, where guests can display their photos, videos and games on the big screen.

The Samsung Smarthub 690 Series equipment installed in the hotel’s 311 rooms gives customers access to all hotel functions, from restaurant menus to entertainment on demand and internet enabled TV apps – the ibis Adelaide is raising hotel standards with the latest in technological innovation.

In parallel, the contemporary interior designed by French design firm Atelier Archange offers a playful and functional look with rooms marrying technology, comfort and heaps of urban cool.

The innovative concept behind the hotel: to provide a high-quality product at a competitive price with everything to please business and leisure travelers. The hotel is a landmark in the economy hotel sector in Australia, promising guests an experience that is both amusing and unexpected.

A symbolic opening
Ibis Adelaide is not only the first ibis hotel opened in Australia since 2008 – it is also the largest.

Development of this AUS$70-million hotel is part of the ibis family’s ambitious expansion program on the Australian continent. Two new ibis Styles hotels are already planned for Western Australia and Queensland.

Accor Pacific Chief Operating Officer Simon McGrath points out that the investments made over the last three years to develop the ibis family have generated a wave of positive reactions from customers lining up to praise the new services. By way of proof: the ibis brand’s Net Promoter Score rose by 4 points in 2014 compared to 2013.

Ibis Adelaide – the 60th hotel in the Group’s economy segment in Australia- should help boost this already positive momentum.

Hilton Worldwide has recently announced the opening of Hilton Istanbul Kozyatagi, the debut of its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand on the Asian side of Istanbul. Offering magnificent views of the Marmara Sea, the upscale hotel is in a prime location within easy reach of the main tourist attractions and commercial areas either side of the Bosphorus.Design features integrated throughout the hotel pay homage to the fact that Istanbul is a melting pot of European and Asian culture. Dragon motifs and handmade lighting, as well as detailing in bedrooms, give a distinctly Asian twist to the contemporary interiors. Modernity is continued through the artwork, where in communal areas, rather than traditional paintings, textured wall art is in abundance.

The 320 guestrooms include 47 executive rooms and 23 suites, each with stylish, contemporary furnishings and modern amenities including Wi-Fi and a 42-inch HDTV. On upper floors, king or twin deluxe rooms benefit from floor-to-ceiling windows offering magnificent views of Istanbul. The property boasts a 24-hour fitness center, indoor swimming pool, spa and Hammam as well as 16 meeting rooms, including two ballrooms, a 24-hour business center and roof-top executive lounge.

The hotel’s Atrium Lounge & Bar offers a range of drinks in stylish surroundings. The rooftop Skylight Restaurant & Bar serves cocktails and contemporary international cuisine against a breathtaking backdrop; The Brasserie serves high-end Asian and international cuisine. The hotel is also home to Speedcity, an entertainment area where visitors can experience the latest full motion control simulators, with virtual Pit stops, indoor ski and various virtual sports – perfect for a fun day out or as part of corporate team building.

Simon Vincent, EVP & president, Europe, Middle East & Africa for Hilton Worldwide, said, “Istanbul remains one of the world’s great tourist destinations, attracting more than 10 million travellers last year alone. Having opened a wide array of hotels across the city in recent years, we’re delighted to be offering guests yet more choice on the Asian side, which now benefits from even greater accessibility to this bustling part of Istanbul.”

Hilton Istanbul Kozyatagi is located 28.5 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and 37.9 kilometres away from Ataturk International Airport. It is just a short drive from both bridges linking to the European side of the city and within walking distance to the Marmaray Project, the railway connection under the Bosphorus Strait.

Istanbul is well-known for its bustling bars, unique shopping experiences, including the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar, as well as a plethora of restaurants offering both traditional and contemporary cuisine. Guests wanting to relax can take a private boat trip to Princes’ Islands – a chain of nine picturesque islands, enjoy lunch on the waterfront at Kalamis Yacht Marina, which is only a 15-minute drive from the hotel or browse the shops on the renowned Bagdat Avenue.

Ergun Demiray, general manager, Hilton Istanbul Kozyatagi, said: “The location of Hilton Istanbul Kozyatagi offers visitors the opportunity to experience the full breadth of cultural, culinary and shopping experiences available in Istanbul. With upscale amenities and spacious, contemporary accommodation, we offer an exciting new choice for travelers and look forward to delivering excellent standards of Hilton hospitality in the city.”

A new breed of hotel has landed in New York and Paris: citizenM Times Square and Charles de Gaulle are open! With its first stateside property, the award-winning Dutch hotel group citizenM brings its unique brand of smart, design-savvy hospitality to the heart of New York City. To the city that never sleeps, citizenM New York is here to help! The 230-room property, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, opened its doors in May.

The hotel upends all the Times Square tourist-trap clichés with its stylish fusion of high design, cutting-edge technology and unequalled comfort. The hotel lobby acts as a central hub for guests and locals, with an oversized living room design, soaring 26-foot ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves showcasing an eclectic mix of art and objects from around the world. Official furniture partner Vitra is showcasing its latest collection in all public areas. Like its sister properties, citizenM New York is home to a stunning collection of contemporary art and photography, including two commissioned pieces – a stunning lobby installation by famed English artist Julian Opie and a Jen Liu exterior piece wrapping around the façade of the building — as well as works by Andy Warhol, Daido Moriyama, Florian Süssmayr and David LaChapelle. Another highlight are the digital artwork displays in all rooms created in collaboration with s[edition], which lets guests select from pieces by contemporary artists such as Mark Titchner and Tracey Emin.

Offering welcome refuge from the concrete jungle at its doorstep, the hotel, designed by concrete architects, also includes several stunning outdoor areas, including a ground-floor courtyard with cascading greenery and beautiful lanterns. Two additional outdoor terraces are on the mezzanine level, next to the designated working areas. The gym has an open-air yoga pavilion with views over bustling Manhattan.

Especially beloved is New York’s very first bird hotel built into a bright red tree trunk, assuring that when it comes to citizenM’s funky hospitality, the sky is no limit! The food and beverage offering at 24hour canteenM have been locally sourced from select New York suppliers. Guests can wind down their busy New York days at the swanky rooftop bar, which includes an indoor space with a fireplace and a wrap around outdoor terrace, as well as a cocktail menu curated by well known mixologist Mayur Subbarao.

CitizenM Paris Charles de Gaulle is the seventh property to date and the first in France – conveniently located in the central zone of CDG International Airport and only half an hour from central Paris.

The hotel’s unique six-story design, also by lauded architecture firm concrete, comprises full glass facades, illuminating windows and light-filled communal spaces that form the social heart of the hotel. The property, which is located right next to the famed Concorde, is also outfitted with top-of-the-line Vitra furnishings, art works, and a commissioned art piece by Julien Opie that covers the entire front façade.

The 230 citzenM guest rooms are the apex of stylish comfort, featuring super king-size beds with custom-made mattresses, wall-to-wall windows, Hansgrohe power rain showers and custom bath products designed by Alessandro Gualtieri. In homage to the creative energy of the city around it, the rooms brim with cultural offerings, from in-room music and customizable playlists by 22tracks, a music discovery service curated by top European DJs. And every aspect of this revolutionary luxury can be accessed with the tap of a finger: TV, music, free wireless Internet, window blinds, temperature, ambient mood lighting, digital artwork and alarm themes are all controlled by bespoke tablet MoodPads.

Planning consent has been granted for a hotel and leisure development in the heart of Scotland.

A consortium of British businessmen has put its weight behind a development of almost 500 acres on the outskirts of the Scottish capital. The development will include a 240 bedroom luxury resort hotel along with a championship golf course designed in conjunction with golfing legend Sandy Lyle who says the development has potential to rival any in Scotland.Planners have also given the green light to a phased development of 250 chalet style villas on the site which will feature lakes and forestry, an equestrian centre, and other popular outdoor leisure facilities.

Alexandra Hayward of Debutesq Group who are handling international sales says “Scotland is crying out for a resort hotel with conference and leisure facilities on a grand scale and this development will help the country compete better internationally”.

Edinburgh is the UK’s largest international and domestic tourist destination outside London with hotels enjoying some of the highest occupancy levels in Europe.

Scotland is a favourite with international conference organisers but is limited in what it has to offer in terms of convention space. While Scotland enjoys a good level of corporate visitors, larger global companies looking to accommodate 200 or more delegates under one roof are limited in choice.

Edinburgh Airport is less than 30 minutes drive from the site which is another factor in attracting international visitors. A number of new routes through Edinburgh Airport including the Middle East helped drive passenger traffic to almost one million in June.

The owners have not ruled out selling the development but are at this stage interested in engaging with international hotel operators and resort developers.

Showcasing its range of luxurious, design-led bathroom solutions for the hospitality industry in the Middle East, Laufen together with Artecasa will be playing a part in The Hotel Show in Dubai this September.The Swiss bathroom manufacturer will be exhibiting in collaboration with the exclusive Laufen partner in United Arab Emirates, Artecasa, who have showrooms in the prestigious Sheik Zayed Road, Dubai and in Abu Dhabi. Artecasa is a supplier of sanitaryware and tiles, providing the best quality products from established suppliers at reasonable prices and delivered with a professional service.

Visitors to The Hotel Show Dubai will have the opportunity to learn more about the Laufen brand, the service and support the company provides to its customers wherever they are in the world, and to see first-hand many of its quality products that turn bathrooms into luxurious, spa-like spaces.

Laufen and Artecasa will be demonstrating complete bathroom solutions including washbasins, WC, faucets, bathtubs and furniture from its high-end collections including Il Bagno Alessi One, Kartell by Laufen and Palomba Collection. Alongside these will be a selection of modular concepts that integrate flawlessly into the most prestigious of architectural settings.

Visit Laufen and Artecasa in Hall 7, Stand E176 at The Hotel Show, Dubai World Trade Centre, from 28-30 September.

For details on the complete range of bathroom solutions available from Laufen contact Mohamed Barakat, Regional Projects Manager – Middle East to make an appointment mohamed.barakat@laufen.ch

St James’s Hotel Group (“St James’s”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Somerston Group, today announces that it has acquired The Legacy Falcon Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon from the Administrators of Noblelarge Limited, Grant Thornton.The four star hotel, with a frontage dating back to the late 15th century, is situated in Chapel Street close to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. It provides 83 bedrooms, seven meeting rooms (one for up to 200 people), two restaurants, two bars and parking for 120 cars.

St James’s intends to invest up to £6 million to completely refurbish the hotel, including the installation of air conditioning in all bedrooms, during the course of next year.

The hotel was previously managed by Legacy Hotels. It will now be managed by St James’s Hotels, which intends to retain all the current management and staff with the expectation of increasing staff numbers on completion of the refurbishment.

Shaun Robinson, managing director of St James’s, commented: “We are very pleased to have been able to acquire The Falcon which is a part of Stratford’s heritage. It has suffered from a lack of capital investment over the past few years but, with a combination of some significant refurbishment, rebranding and committed management, we are confident of returning it to its former glory while providing up to date accommodation for our guests”.

St James’s was established by the Somerston Group earlier this year and acquired the Forestdale portfolio of fourteen unbranded, three star hotels in strongly performing locations across England, in March. It is currently investing in the extensive refurbishment of a number of the hoteIs in the portfolio and is in the process of selling a number of non-core hotels for alternative uses, particularly healthcare related.

St James’s has also recently acquired the 119 bed, Hilton Hotel in Portsmouth, in which it will be investing £4 million to convert it into a 150 bed ‘limited service’ hotel which will, on completion, will operate under the Holiday Inn express brand.

The Lake District’s Sharrow Bay Country House Hotel has recently undergone a soft refurbishment with bespoke carpets from a Wilton Carpets Commercial now featuring in the dining room and sitting area, as well as some of the bedrooms. Based upon an existing creation from the Ston Easton Park Hotel in Somerset, an impressive luxury hotel under the same ownership, the design of the carpets at the Sharrow Bay Hotel have been adapted to meet the different demands of the interior.

For the dining room and sitting areas, a bespoke 10-row woven axminster provides the utmost in durability, with the design first used at Ston Easton Park adapted in border size to suit the areas of Sharrow Bay without detracting from its traditional atmosphere. In the bedrooms an eight-row woven carpet provides tailored performance, with the border used on the previous bedroom design for Ston Easton Park removed to suit the room dimensions of the Sharrow Bay Hotel.

Sarah Taylor, project manager responsible for the soft refurbishment, explains:

“Having liked the colour and design of a previous bespoke creation by Wilton Carpets Commercial at the Ston Easton Park Hotel, the owner wanted to replicate its look at the Sharrow Bay Hotel, but we knew that it would need adaptation to work within the size and different layout of the rooms. We worked with contractor Kendal Quality Carpets that helped to calculate the size of borders to retain the original aesthetic within new confines. Having worked with Wilton Carpets before we knew the carpets would be very hardwearing and forgiving.”

With a total of 400 square metres installed within the hotel, the designs were manufactured in Wilton Carpets Commercial’s Wiltshire facility in a performance blend of 80% wool 20% nylon for maximum appearance retention. Using grey background shade with blue and burgundy accent colours, the carpet works well with the panelled walls and luxurious textiles, helping to unite the eclectic collection of furniture, fabrics and art.

With stunning views of Ullswater in the heart of the Lake District, Sharrow Bay Hotel was the UK’s first country house hotel, after being converted from its original use as a fishermen’s lodge.

Morgan, the British furniture designer and manufacturer, will launch its new Paris collection at the 1 Dallington Street showroom during LDF 2014. Combining classically inspired silhouettes with beautiful timber detailing, Paris has a classic contemporary feel that is ideal for boutique hotels and restaurants.The collection consists of three dining/meeting chairs with the same fully upholstered seat but different back treatment. A traditional wave shaped top edge, a handle shaped showwood top detail and a large curved back give each of the three chairs a different distinctive character. All pieces in the collection offer a generous sit with a fully webbed frame. The frame is manufactured from solid beech as standard and can be made in walnut or oak species on request.

Travelodge, the UK’s biggest independent hotel chain, is officially opening its first hotel in the heart of Christchurch’s town centre this Saturday (20th September 2014). The new 68-room property, which represents a £4 million investment is located on Saxon Square Shopping Centre and sits close to the railway station and local attractions and beaches. The new hotel has created 12 new jobs within the community and will boost the company’s portfolio in Dorset to seven hotels. Room rates start from £29.

With the county receiving four million visitors from all corners of the world each year, there is a growing demand for good quality value accommodation across Dorset. In response to this growing demand, Travelodge is also announcing today that it is looking for a further two new hotel sites in Weymouth and Swanage. These two new openings will create 30 new jobs.

Christchurch Travelodge will be officially opened by The Worshipful the Mayor of Christchurch, Councillor Denise Jones, Member of Parliament for Christchurch Christopher Chope and Travelodge Operations Director, Leigh McCarron (who was born and raised in Christchurch).

The hotel has been designed in the Company’s new contemporary brand look which has been designed by Travelodge customers. All rooms feature a new luxurious bespoke king size bed called the Travelodge Dreamer. This type of bed is predominately used by luxury hotel brands worldwide. Also another new addition to the room is a set of truckle beds instead of a sofa bed – for children and additional adults staying in the room.

Christchurch Travelodge is being managed by Lynn Bailey, who started her career with the company back in 2010 as an Assistant Hotel Manager at Bournemouth Travelodge. Lynn has recruited her 12-strong team via Travelodge’s established partnership with Job Centre Plus, which helps the long term unemployed back into work.

Lynn Bailey, Christchurch Travelodge Hotel Manager said: “We are delighted to open our first hotel in Christchurch. Our new modern look hotel is ideally located close to the beaches and attractions, making it a great value base for visitors to just get up & go and explore.
“The hotel looks amazing, it has been designed in the new Travelodge contemporary brand style. By offering good value rooms, we will attract more visitors to Christchurch which will give the local economy an additional boost of £1.2m, as our research shows that a Travelodge customer will spend on average £36 in local businesses when staying over. The hotel has already got off to a flying start and we’re nearly sold out for the October half term.

“Dorset is an important market for us. The county is a tourism powerhouse. Its visitor numbers are growing year on year and it is attracting visitors from all corners of the globe. To support the great work that is happening to attract more visitors to Dorset, we are looking for two more sites in the county to build more Travelodge hotels; so that we can offer more good value rooms to consumers.”

Travelodge has also invested more than a quarter of a million pounds in modernising three of its hotels within the Dorset area. This includes: Bournemouth, Bournemouth Seafront and Ringwood Travelodge hotels. All properties feature the new Travelodge room design and the new brand contemporary look and feel.

This investment is part of a nationwide £57 million hotel modernisation programme Travelodge is currently undertaking. By autumn this year, over 80% of Travelodge hotels will incorporate the company’s new brand design.

Supranational Hotels, one of the world’s largest hotel companies and leading provider of hotel distribution technologies, is actively targeting emerging markets to expand its current 700 strong portfolio of 3, 4 and 5 star hotels. The group is looking to build its portfolio of destinations within South America, India and Japan where business and leisure travel continues to grow. In South America, seven hotels in Argentina, including the 4-star Lafayette Hotel in Buenos Aires, the 4-star Ducal Suites in Cordoba and the Don Luis Apart Hotel in Corrientes, have joined the Supranational Hotels portfolio this August.

Supranational has also commissioned the Win Corporation Ltd in Japan and AHS India (absolute hospitality services pvt ltd) to identify potential primary and secondary city destinations within Asia for Supranational, including Tokyo, Yokohama, New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore that will benefit the online travel community and recognise the geographical gaps in the brand’s worldwide distribution.

Cho Wong, Managing Director of Supranational Hotels comments, “Over the last year, we have seen a stable increase in new hotels joining us from across Europe. In the Win Corporation in Japan, and AHS India, we now have the local expertise of two leading hotel representation partners to help realise the potential for Supranational to reach new destinations in Asia. These agreements support us in meeting the needs of our travel buyers and to redress the balance of our geographical spread.”

In partnering with Supranational Hotels, each hotel will benefit from the brand’s expansive network of clients and travel partners as well as award-winning hotel booking technologies including GDS, Central Reservation System (CRS) from Columbus NG and their all-new Internet Booking Engine (IBE), whilst retaining their brand identity and independence. Hoteliers can also take advantage of Supranational’s real time hotel data and fast RFP management services that will secure them access into coveted global corporate travel programmes.

Supranational Hotels is at World Travel Market London 2014- Global Village, stand GV540

www.supranationalhotels.com
@Supranational
#SNR40

India’s leading luxury hotel group, ITC Hotels, will launch its first five-star leisure retreat in late 2014. The ITC Grand Bharat, a luxury golf resort and spa, is set to open on October 1st. The new property will be the first retreat in ITC Hotels’ collection, which currently comprises 10 business-focused hotels in India’s top cities.Only 40 minutes from Delhi, ITC Grand Bharat, will be a destination within itself. Situated over an expansive 300 acres, the luxury wellness retreat will be a tribute to India’s rich heritage and regionally inspired architecture, overlooking an iconic Jack Nicklaus designed, 27-hole Classic Golf Course.

The centrepiece of the resort will be the Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, the first in South Asia. It offers three specialised courses, each with nine holes, the Canyon Course, the Ridge Course and the Valley Course, alongside a golf club and bar.

For those not keen on the greens then the large spa, ITC Hotels’ signature Kaya Kalp – The Royal Spa, will offer an extensive array of rituals and treatments. With nine treatment rooms, the spa will offer medicinal healing and detoxification programmes as well as comprehensive yoga regimes from the prestigious Bihar School of Yoga and a state of the art fitness centre with personal trainers. Guests will also be able to dine on naturopathic cuisine; a special diet planned by Ayurveda practitioners and certified doctors.

These facilities will be complemented by four dining outlets, the Aravalli Pavilion, an all day dining restaurant, the India Room, serving classic European cuisine, the Peacock Bar & Cigar Divan and Camp Bharat, a poolside bar and lounge. The resort will also be home to ITC Hotels’ first culinary school with courses and lessons available to guests. In addition many of the retreat’s fresh fruit and vegetables will be grown onsite within the extensive grounds.

A host of recreational activities for both adventure and natureenthusiasts will also be available, from nature trails and bird watching, to canoeing, paragliding, swimming, cycling or watching a live performance at the open-air amphitheatre. The local area is rich in culture and ripe to be explored, with museums and art galleries that showcase the cultural, political and natural history of the region.

ITC Hotels are set to expand their portfolio even further with a second resort due to open in mid 2015. The ITC Vilasa, located just 25 kilometres from south Chennai, will overlook the majestic Bay of Bengal and will be ITC Hotels’ first beach resort and spa. A further four hotels are scheduled to open by 2018, expanding ITC Hotels’ portfolio from 10 to 16 properties, equating to roughly 5,000 rooms. ITC Hotels’ first property outside of the country, the ITC Hotel in Sri Lanka’s capital of Colombo is slated to open in 2018.

Setting itself apart from other WC flush plates in terms of looks and performance, Geberit has launched its most revolutionary and innovative flush system yet, the Geberit Sigma70 featuring new Dual Hydraulic Servo technology.Making activation of the flush almost effortless, Geberit is pioneering new technology with its latest flush plate, while its beautiful design enables it to fit seamlessly into the contemporary bathroom or washroom. With its patented technology concealed within the cistern, architects are left to enjoy unparalleled levels of design freedom

Made out of a single piece of glass or stainless steel for a minimalist finish, Geberit Sigma70 uses patented hydraulic and pneumatic power to activate the flush, which is triggered by the very lightest of touches by the user.

In fact, the innovative hydraulic servo actuation, the first of its kind for WC flush plates, means the user needs only to apply slight pressure in order to activate the flush. A slight push on the left side of the plate flushes solids clean away, while gently pushing on the right side flushes liquids.

With this clever technology neatly hidden behind the wall or tiles, the flush plate’s beautiful rimless design gives it the illusion of floating above the wall. The Geberit Sigma70 flush plate is available in a choice of finishes including brushed stainless steel, and white, black or umber glass and a bespoke option for a truly individual finish.

Geberit – 0800 077 8365 www.geberit.co.uk

Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants announced its plans to expand the brand’s footprint in the heart of both Chicago and Nashville, Tennessee, with two new hotels opening in 2016.The boutique hotel chain has been selected as the operator of a new 180-key boutique hotel in Nashville, adjacent to the Vanderbilt University campus in Midtown, and has also purchased an historic building in Chicago’s Central Loop neighbourhood which will be converted into a four-star, 281-room hotel.

Kimpton to Open Its Fifth Property in Chicago
The 14-story iconic building, which was originally constructed in 1894 and currently serves as commercial office space, is one of only two existing office buildings in Chicago created by internationally-renowned architect William Le Baron Jenney. Scheduled for a Q1 2016 opening, the new hotel will feature a destination restaurant and bar, a lively Library Bar on the second floor adjacent to the lobby and living room, as well as 9,500 square feet of prime shopping space on the ground floor. Offering more than 12,500 square feet of meeting and event space on the 14thand 15th floors, the hotel will also feature a top floor ballroom with views of LaSalle Street. This will be Kimpton’s fifth property in Chicago, joining the Hotel Burham, Hotel Allegro, Hotel Monaco and Hotel Palomar.

“Chicago has proven to be a consistently successful market for Kimpton, and this new hotel will give us an opportunity to leverage many operational synergies here with our other four hotels,” said Kimpton President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Depatie.“We are excited to expand our footprint in this great city, and bring Kimpton’s unique design and heartfelt approach to hospitality to this historic Chicago building.”

New Upscale Hotel Opening in Nashville
Buckingham Companies has awarded Kimpton the management contract for the Nashville hotel, which will be part of the 17-story, 600,000-square-foot Buckingham Midtown project. Kimpton’s first hotel in Tennessee, anticipated to open in late 2016, will feature 180 rooms, a restaurant and bar, 6,500 square feet of meeting and event space and a pool. The architecture of Buckingham Midtown will reflect the neighbourhood’s diversity and energy featuring modern elements where the development faces the Midtown area, and traditional design facing the storied Vanderbilt campus.

“Kimpton has long admired the eclectic vitality of Nashville and we’re so excited to bring our unique amenities and guest experience to people travelling to the city, “said Mike Depatie, president and CEO of Kimpton.
The Nashville hotel is part of Kimpton’s expanding presence in the Southeast region. In addition to the Buckingham property, Kimpton recently announced plans to open a hotel in the former R.J. Reynolds Building in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Jumeirah, the global luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, has revealed plans to launch a new contemporary lifestyle brand. The new brand, which is called VENU, is designed to appeal to the modern traveller whose expectations revolve around their own lifestyle – clean, contemporary, cool and effortless. To mark the launch of VENU, the company is revealing the visual identity of the brand and announcing the appointment of a top hotelier to lead its development. Furthermore, the Dubai-based developer Meraas Holding is in discussion with Jumeirah Group to operate the first VENU hotel on Bluewaters Island in Dubai.VENU is inspired by the spirit of Dubai: bold, ambitious, energetic and cosmopolitan, infused with a can-do attitude and a powerful blend of style and substance. This is reflected in the design of the new brand’s logo. It is simple and unpretentious, modern and creative, offering a sense that everyone who visits, stays at or works within a VENU space has the freedom to write their own story, create their own narrative, build their own scene.

The essence of the new brand is that of a ‘social catalyst’ – a social place where good things happen, where people feel welcome and at ease, surrounded by a crowd they love, a smooth machine that offers everything they need and nothing they don’t.

Speaking at the launch of the new brand, Nicholas Clayton, CEO Group Operations at Jumeirah Group, said: “This is a genuinely exciting innovation for Jumeirah Group. The time is right for us to launch a new contemporary lifestyle brand. Its provenance and energy comes from Dubai – and the first few VENU hotels will open here – but it is ultimately a powerful way of taking the core essence of the Dubai out into the international market, reflecting the city’s energy, dynamism and cosmopolitan nature. At the same time, coming to a VENU hotel will be an intuitive experience, built around and anticipating the needs of the modern, savvy traveller.”

Jumeirah is also pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Balcik as Vice President Operations, Brand Development, charged with leading preparations for the roll-out of VENU internationally.

A Turkish/American national, Matt Balcik has 18 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, having worked in Turkey, Washington DC, Sydney, Aruba, US Virgin Islands, New Orleans and Newport Beach, California. His most recent position was as General Manager of the W Hotel in Istanbul. Prior to that, he held a number of senior roles working for well-known hotel brands such as Marriott and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, including General Manager of the Westin Virgin Islands and General Manager of the Westin Aruba. He also has extensive Brand development experience having spent 3 years as the Global Brand Advocate and Corporate Director of Operations for Renaissance Hotels.

Nicholas Clayton commented: “We are delighted to welcome Matt Balcik to lead the introduction of VENU to the market. His multi-brand background, together with strong operations experience, makes him the ideal candidate to spearhead the introduction and roll-out of our new contemporary lifestyle brand to the market. Under Matt’s leadership, we want travellers to be inspired by the energy of the VENU brand – to feel that they are encountering something completely new, where technology is seamlessly integrated into the hotel experience, where the world comes together – a happening place full of energy and a cosmopolitan crowd.”

Discussions are under way with a number of developers in the Middle East, Asia and Europe for the VENU brand. Appropriately, given the provenance of the brand, one of the first VENU hotels will be located in Dubai. The full details of the planned projects will be announced later in the year.

VENU will operate as an independent brand under the Jumeirah Group, targeting travellers with a passion for simplicity, style, efficiency and effortless living and working. Further updates on new hotels under the VENU brand and key appointments will follow in the coming months.

The industrially inspired Metro Wall Light from Chelsom is a sleek and contemporary piece that looks equally at home in more traditional settings. Available as part of a wider collection of desk and floor lighting, the Metro range features a double cone head with swivel joint for multi directional LED light and elongated decorative slots to allow optimum light spill while warm white light emits through frosted acrylic diffusers.

Pictured here in Satin Black with Polished Chrome, the fitting is available in various finish options with colour co-ordinated metal push switch housed in the backplate.

For more details, please contact Chelsom: www.chelsom.co.uk

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced an agreement with Hainan Jianfeng Tourism Development Co., Ltd. to debut China’s first W Retreat and the second St. Regis resort on Hainan Island. Scheduled to open in 2019 and 2020, respectively, W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay and The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort will both be located at the North Wing of Haitang Bay, one of the most exclusive and sought-after addresses in the area. Starwood is vigorously expanding its luxury presence to meet the demands of a new generation of well-heeled travelers in Hainan. By 2020, the company will add four luxury resorts to Hainan Island, including three St. Regis resorts in Haikou, Qingshui Bay and Haitang Bay as well as a W Retreat & Spa in Haitang Bay.

The only tropical island in China and the country’s largest Special Economic Zone, Hainan boasts powdery beaches, lush scenery and year-round sunshine. The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort and W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay will be located near Haitangwan town, 38 kilometers from Sanya’s city center and 45 kilometers from Sanya Phoenix International Airport. With 21.8 kilometers of pristine beachfront, clear waters and coconut palm groves, Haitang Bay retains an unspoiled beauty. A National Coast Wetland Park, Ocean Park, aquarium and yacht club have been planned within 4 kilometers of the resort complex. Construction has also commenced on the first phase of a larger yacht club, with 30 berths at Tielu Harbor on the tip of the South Wing of Haitang Bay.

W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay
Designed to become Hainan Island’s newest, most happening scene, W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay will feature 450 stylish guestrooms and 10 villas, with most guestrooms boasting panoramic ocean views.

The W Retreat & Spa will serve as an ideal island venue for weddings, business gatherings and creative meetings, featuring more than 2,400 square meters of meeting and event space as well as a business center, spa, fitness center, indoor heated swimming pool, kids club and W Hotels The Store. In addition, W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay will offer four unique restaurant and bar offerings, including an all-day dining restaurant, Chinese restaurant, specialty restaurant and lobby lounge. Guests can also expect the W brand’s renowned Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy, providing them with whatever they want, whenever they want it.

As the first W Retreat in China, W Retreat & Spa Sanya – Haitang Bay joins W Retreat & Spa Goa in the Asia Pacific pipeline. The W brand currently operates five Retreats in exotic destinations around the world, including Bali, Maldives, Koh Samui, Verbier and Vieques Island.

The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort
Located directly on the beach with panoramic ocean vistas, The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort will feature 400 guestrooms and 15 villas, as well as a luxury spa, three restaurants, a lobby lounge, wine bar and over 2,000 square meters of meeting facilities. Offering an unrivaled dimension of luxury, sophistication and service, The St. Regis Sanya Haitang Bay Resort is poised to occupy a leading position as one of the island’s premier vacation and tourist destinations.

Specifically, the resort will present guests with the famed hallmarks of St. Regis hotels, including luxury accommodations, bespoke guest experiences and the iconic St. Regis Butler Service. St. Regis butlers provide ever-present, yet unobtrusive service while anticipating guest needs and customizing each guest’s stay according to his or her specific tastes and preferences.

Crosswater is at this year’s exhibition as part of a total room setting brought together by the Hotel Supply Group.The Hotel Supply Group, is a professional collective that combines the expertise and knowledge to design bedrooms and bathroom schemes for the hospitality sector. The room design has been designed by Indcreations with products from members Artimide, Crosswater, Forest Contracts, Max International, Purius, Sekers, & The Fine Cotton Company.

David Balmer, Crosswater’s Hospitality Senior Projects Manager explains. “The show is a unique chance to talk to independent hotels, boutique hotels and bed and breakfast owners about their design needs and practical considerations of hotel bathrooms. We’ve working with the Hotel Supply Group this year to showcase a complete solution with products from all the Crosswater brands; Simpsons shower, Crosswater brassware showers and accessories and Bauhaus.”

21st – 22nd October 2014 – Olympia West Hall, London – Hotel Supply Group Stand 80.

Upon finding out the results of the New Designers BCFA FR One Award, Cliq Designs were delighted to spot a familiar face on the podium.LEFT: Jessica Leigh Calvert; University: Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design.

Many years have passed since Jessica Leigh Calvert spent 2 weeks at Cliq Designs in Preston, a member of the BCFA, as part of a GCSE work placement from All Hallows Catholic High School in early 2007.

“It was the first time I had ever had experience within the textile industry and I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Cliq,” said Jessica.

“Whilst at Cliq I was given a project to work through from concept to completion; I designed and made a quilted bed throw. I had recently done up my room at home and it was a really fun process working with the colours and textures, drawing out my ideas and then being able to see the finished product.” Getting involved in client meetings proved to be a great opportunity for Jessica to see first-hand what a career in the industry entailed.

Cliq Designs, nestled in the traditional textile climes of the North-west, produces a wide range of soft furnishings for hotels to order. These include bed throws, wall panels, valances and cushions with an emphasis on quilted products. They have recently launched quilted acoustic panels, onto which designs can be transformed from sketch to 3D stitch.

Whilst working with the company, Jessica was studying art at GCSE level. Her interest in fashion then took her to Newman College in Preston to study Art and Design in Textiles.

“I came to Cliq because I was able to gain a better understanding of the industry and how certain sectors work. At this point I don’t think I knew exactly where I wanted to be within the textile industry. I was just excited to be in a textile environment.”

After A levels, Jessica completed her Art Foundation at Winstanley College in Wigan, from which she was accepted at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in 2011 to study BA Textile Design. “At Saint Martin’s I was able to learn about the construction of fabrics, including how to design and make my own from the drawing board. I have always been fascinated with fabrics, textures, creating looks, and my portfolio is specifically dobby and jacquard hand woven fabrics.” Gradually Jessica realized that her true passion was interiors – looking at houses and hotel interiors and how they create a story and a concept.

Winning the New Designers BCFA FR One Award has landed Jessica a four week internship with the design studio at FR One in Antwerp to assist in the design of their new collection. The judges were impressed by her enthusiastic approach to textiles, shown through her in-depth research and tireless efforts to turn her vision into a commercial product.

“Jessica was a great student to have on our busy team – she took a real interest in all aspects of our work, from quilting and sewing across a wide spectrum of fabrics and finished products. We are always pleased to hear that we have helped students realize their potential – and in Jessica’s case, their dream to study at Central St Martins and be recognized Iand celebrated in the highly competitive design world. It’s been quite a journey from the old textile heartlands of Lancashire with Cliq Designs, looking to the future in Europe with FROne. We wish her all the best!” says Liz Bolton, Marketing Director at Cliq Designs.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has recently announced three new properties for Mexico: two Holiday Inn® hotels in of Puebla and Villahermosa; and one Holiday Inn Express® hotel in Pachuca. These hotels are expected to open before 2016 year end and will add to IHG’s current pipeline of over 20 Holiday Inn brand family hotels for the country. They will be operated under a franchise agreement with an affiliate of IHG. The Holiday Inn Express® Pachuca hotel, expected to open by mid-2015, will be located a short distance from the modern Zona Plateada area – home to major attractions, the business and financial districts and the Tuzoforum Convention Center, which can hold up to 2,000 people. The hotel will have 108 guest rooms and amenities include an indoor swimming pool, two meeting rooms, fitness center, business center, and 226 parking spaces. Additionally, guests will enjoy the complimentary Desayuno Express bar featuring a full range of breakfast items, including a rotation of egg and meat selections, pastries, yogurt, fruit, juices, regional dishes, and coffee.

Currently under construction, the 100-room Holiday Inn® Villahermosa hotel is located in the Tabasco Parque Logístico Industrial – the area’s premier industrial park – and in close proximity to businesses and corporate offices such as Groupe Danone® and Tacker® Solutions, among others. Expected to open before 2015 year end, the hotel is owned and managed by Hospitality Travel Services, SA de CV.

The Holiday Inn Puebla Centro Histórico hotel will be situated in the heart of Puebla’s historic downtown district. Expected to open by mid-2016, the location is ideal for both leisure and corporate travellers who will enjoy the many amenities including an exterior swimming pool, two meeting rooms, a fitness center, a business center, rooftop garden and a full-service restaurant and bar. The newly constructed 96-room property is owned by Turquesa de Puebla, S.A. de C.V., and managed by Latin America Hotel Group SC.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the debut of its trailblazing Element brand in Europe with the opening of Element Frankfurt Airport. This marks the first Element hotel outside of North America. Offering bright, modern design and green-minded sensibilities, the hotel is located in Gateway Gardens, Frankfurt’s new business district adjacent to Frankfurt International Airport, Europe’s third-busiest air travel hub. Element Frankfurt Airport offers travellers a reimagined interpretation of the extended stay experience and an atmosphere to fuel a life in balance and on the move. Built in the heart of the growing new business district near the global headquarters of Lufthansa, Condor and DB Schenker, the hotel is only a few minutes away from one of the biggest international airports worldwide, Frankfurt International Airport. The hotel features 133 spacious and airy extended stay studios and one-bedroom suites, all with modular furniture, flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets with ironing board. Every room comes with a fully equipped energy-efficient kitchen, spa-inspired bathrooms including invigorating rain showers and signature Heavenly® Beds to ensure a good night’s rest.

Limónes, the all-day dining restaurant and bar, serves regional Spanish cuisine from 7am until midnight including a healthy breakfast, shared lunches with tapas-style dishes, and à la carte dining meals. The hotel has a 24-hour fitness centre – Motion – plus a flexible meeting space and a business centre. Guests at Element Frankfurt Airport can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, the brand’s signature healthy and complimentary RISE breakfast; Restore, a 24/7 grab-and-go gourmet food pantry to buy everything they need to make delicious meals in-room; RELAX evening receptions. Additionally, 24-hour laundry facilities with washers and dryers are available for guests’ convenience.

Vaughan is pleased to announce the much anticipated launch of their new lighting catalogues at Focus 2014 (21st – 24th September). The three catalogues incorporate new products and stunning lifestyle photography in easy-to-read, bound books. Volume 1: Wall Light collection
Volume 2: Ceiling Light collection and
Volume 3: Floor & Table Lamps

The all-new Vaughan catalogues offers a comprehensive range of decorative lighting catering for both traditional and contemporary styles with beautifully designed products for every room – the range includes chandeliers, lanterns, wall sconces, picture lights, bathroom fixtures, uplighters, task lights and table lamps.

To request a catalogue please email: contract-sales@vaughandesigns.com

The historic Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel has undergone an extensive nine-month redesign across its public spaces, restaurant and bar, bedrooms and meeting rooms, transforming the look of the locally inspired hotel.Re-opened to the public on the 1st September, Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel is the second hotel the brand has unveiled in the UK that showcases its new lobby concept, which was first launched in Mercure London Bridge last year. Based on the “la table d’hôtes”, this new lobby concept puts the customer welcome at the heart of the experience.

Guests who are looking for a quick hassle free check-in and out at the stunning hotel, which is nestled at the foot of Box Hill in the idyllic Surrey Hills, are able to do so around an oak table by friendly staff who are on hand 24-7, to ensure all guests receive a warm Mercure welcome.

Mercure is a “locally inspired” brand and this is shown through the personal touches which pay homage to the literary roots of the area and historical background of the hotel.

Bespoke chairs with prints from John Keats poetry can be found in the new open lobby marking the visit of the famous poet to this hotel. It was here that Keats wrote Endymion and where part of the fabled Arabian Nights was created by author Robert Louis Stevenson. Poet William Wordsworth, playwright Richard Sheridan and author, Jane Austen were also known to frequent the hotel and local area. In the Emlyn restaurant words from Austen’s classic, “Emma” can be found quoted on the wall, reminding guests of the Box Hill picnic set in the novel. Retro Penguin books can be found in the library area of the lobby to encourage guests to submerge themselves into the literary world that encapsulates the area and hotel.

Modern art created to incorporate the woven pattern from some wicker placemats gifted to the general manager from Lord Nelson after his stay, many years ago can be found behind the host table in the lobby area and guests will enjoy spotting various objects such as little bronze cycling figures, which represent the area’s association with the 2012 Olympics also in this open space.

Miniature orchids that form the centerpieces of the restaurant are a nod to the area’s scientific interest and if guests look closely in the bar area, five Dorking cockerels hang on the bar wall, distinguished for their odd number of toes; five. The hotel’s feature wall will also showcase local flint, which pays tribute to the local materials found in the area.

The hotel provides guests with 57 bedrooms, which are elegantly styled with a contemporary and luxurious design that upholds traditional features. Each room showcases unique artwork, which is printed on antique mirrors and fabrics. To ensure guests have everything they need to enjoy a relaxing stay, each bedroom has been furnished with a new flat screen TV with international satellite channels and 24-hour room service is available. High speed WiFi is available throughout the hotel free of charge.

In addition to Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel also boasts eight meeting rooms that have been designed to cater for between four and 220 people so that it can accommodate a range of events and weddings.

The Tithe Barn is the biggest of the event spaces. It was originally built in 1600 and was moved to Burford Bridge in 1934. It’s stunning vaulted ceiling, said to have been built from the timbers taken from the galleons of the Spanish Armada, makes the perfect space for – weddings and special events.

And it’s not just the décor at Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge Hotel that has received locally inspired touches. The Emlyn Restaurant, the hotel’s two AA Rosette restaurant, offers guests a great selection of locally inspired dishes. For guests looking to celebrate their special occasions with a fine dining experience the hotel offers a beautiful fine dining menu called “Best of Burford”. There is also an All Day Dining Menu in the bar and lounge, which provides guests with a fantastic array of modern British cuisine.

Between May and September guests and members of the local community will also be able to enjoy swimming in the hotel’s heated lido, after getting changed in the original changing rooms – which have been brought back to their former glory.

On 2nd October, 2014, NEWH United Kingdom, the premier networking resource for the hospitality industry, is holding its annual fundraising event to benefit the students of Ravensbourne College of Design & Communication. The evening social is being held in the garden conservatory of the Hoxton Shoreditch hotel and is NEWH-UK’s main fundraising event for the year, with all event proceeds going into the NEWH-UK scholarship fund.2014 marks the first year NEWH-UK is sponsoring students from Ravensbourne. NEWH-UK directors selected Ravensbourne for their sponsorship program for many reasons, chief among them being:

• 92% of students are from state school backgrounds and are based in the UK
• 30% are from minority ethnic backgrounds

“After several years supporting the Royal College of Art, we feel it’s an appropriate time for a change.” explains Carolyn Banks, NEWH-UK Sponsorship Director. “Beginning this year, we have chosen to offer scholarships to students on the Architecture & Interior Design course at Ravensbourne.”

The scholarship entries will be from 2nd-year degree students who will have completed a hospitality project as part of their curriculum. The scholarships will help them fund their third year of study towards a degree. The work of three selected students will also be shown at upcoming hospitality industry events in London.

The NEWH-UK Annual Fundraiser event can host up to 100 people and is expected to sell out. Event guests will include interior designers, hotel operators and suppliers working within the hospitality industry—professional networking is a key benefit for attendees. Visiting members of the NEWH corporate leadership in the USA will also be in attendance.

In addition to money raised by ticket sales, five corporate sponsors are financially supporting the event: Distinction Contract, Crosswater, Porcelanosa, Panaz and Vescom.

The NEWH UK Annual Fundraiser at the Hoxton Shoreditch starts at 6 pm on 2nd October and will continue until around 11 pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are £40 for NEWH members and £50 for non-members.

Leading Japanese hospitality company Fujita Kanko Inc. announced it is now accepting reservations for a new Hotel Gracery, opening in April 2015 in Kabukicho, Tokyo’s entertainment and nightlife hub, located in the Shinjuku area. Hotel Gracery Shinjuku will be the Hotel Gracery brand’s new flagship.The 970-room hotel will occupy the 8th through 30th floors of Shinjuku Toho Building, an entertainment complex under construction on the former site of the landmark Koma Theater (built in 1955 and torn down in 2008). The new Kabukicho landmark will host a 12-screen cinema complex and various restaurants and bars. The hotel will also open an Italian restaurant.

According to TripAdvisor’s “World City Surveys,” Tokyo is the world’s safest, cleanest and best city in overall travel experience. It is a city of multiple urban hubs, including Shinjuku. “We’re excited about opening this property as part of the new landmark development in Kabukicho, where there are no hotels of comparable size and quality,” said Akira Segawa, president of Fujita Kanko. “We’ll offer just what visitors look for in a Tokyo hotel: safe, convenient and very comfortable lodgings with great style. Although Kabukicho is nicknamed ‘the sleepless town,’ known for its nightlife, our Kabukicho hotel will also be a good choice for business travelers – it’s a very safe and centrally located place.”

The opening of Hotel Gracery Shinjuku will give Fujita Kanko the largest share of Shinjuku’s hospitality market, 2,604 guest rooms, including their Shinjuku Washington Hotel’s 1,634 rooms.

Hotel Gracery operates three properties in Sapporo and Tokyo, stylish, modern hotels that offer comfort and convenience with personal services targeting leisure travelers. The opening of Hotel Gracery Shinjuku is part of an aggressive Hotel Gracery group expansion, with new openings in Okinawa in 2015 and Kyoto in 2016. Hotel Gracery Shinjuku will offer special opening rates for a limited time. For more information and reservations, visit:
http://shinjuku.gracery.com