Waldeck Capital, the developer and – since May 2013 – the operator of The Augustine in Prague announced on the 13th February that it has sold all its shares in the multi-award-winning property to its co-investors and outlined its plans for the future.Waldeck Capital created The Augustine from a complex of six historic buildings, each of which was lovingly restored by hand before it opened in 2009. Since then, the five-star luxury property has gone on to win a plethora of industry awards for the stunning renovation work, for its interior design and for the excellent standards of service attained by its staff. Last year, The Augustine was named one of the Top 100 Hotels in the World in Travel + Leisure’s 2013 World’s Best Awards.
In addition to developing luxury hotels, Waldeck Capital is also in the process of establishing the Waldeck Luxury Academy in Dubai and Johannesburg, South Africa. The Academies will provide etiquette and protocol training, as well as resource management, for the hospitality industry at all staffing levels.
Waldeck Capital sees a gap in the market for superior hotel education, given that current hospitality training is often dependent on individual brand standards that only cover the basics. The Academy training will go well beyond that level with each candidate having to sit written, oral and practical exams; if a student is successful and becomes accredited, he or she will be subjected to a blind inspection at some point in the future and if their standard has dropped below certification level, they will either have to retrain or lose their accreditation.
Generating inspiration through unusual and impressive lighting projects offers BAULMANN in their 13th issue of the lighting magazine CANDELA. Introducing some of BAULMANN’s most recent national and international projects: • Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht is a unique personalised Amsterdam experience,
• the Frankfurter Hof grand hotel traditions enjoy a refreshingly new approach,
• Vodafone Düsseldorf offers its employees an excellent atmosphere in the cafeteria,
• Interconti Marseille – magnificent 18th century landmark,
• the presence of Baulmann lights in the 25h hotels Zürich West and Bikini Berlin,
• at Vapiano one can comfortably eat.
Candela 13 can be downloaded here, or for a hardcopy please feel free to contact the sales team of BAULMANN.
Design and innovation and technical specification, cost awareness and product performance are all paramount at Sekers in the design of their ranges. This spring launch sees 4 new ranges that are complementary and allow you to mix patterns, textures and colour in an innovative way to give a fresh approach to your interior spaces. All these ranges have the durability required for the contract market.
Fabric collections are Diablo, Cavalli, Mayfair and Alpha all sourced and created by the Natasha Marshall team for Sekers.Diablo Stunning patterned Trevira CS curtain range including designs Yasmin, Asteria, Phoebe, Selene and Pallas. Designs ranging from graphic patterns, Florals through to semi textured plains all in elegant tone on tone colourways. Beautiful drape for curtains and use as bed-throws or cushions. Colours ranging from Turquoise, Jet and Dusky Mauve through to Feather Grey, Mustard Gold and Parchment.
Mayfair High quality simulated leather with the button embossed Chesterfield effect called ‘Belmont’ with complimenting plain ‘Kendal’. Passing 200,000 martindale, Inherently Crib 5. Available in 10 colours ranging from Claret, Jet and Walnut.
Alpha A curtain weight velvet inherently flame-retardant with beautiful drape. Available in 20 colours ranging from Dragonfly, Ink and Ruby through to Sesame and Ivory.
Cavalli A striking velvet pile woven animal skin design. Passing 100,000 martindale & Crib 5. Suitable for contract upholstery and cushions. There are 16 colours ranging from Wild Aster, Autumn Ginger, Aubergine through to Ocean and Warm Sand.
BAGNODESIGN, manufacturer and supplier of design-led bathroom solutions, has strengthened its marketing and sales team in the UK and Europe with the appointment of Nicola Norris to the role of Brand Manager.A familiar face to many in the bathroom industry, Nicola brings a wealth of experience to her new position and joins BAGNODESIGN from Ambiance Bain, where she was National Sales Manager. Having started her career in bathrooms as a showroom manager, Nicola has also worked as part of the Retail team for Grohe and on Duravit’s Contract team. She has also worked for distributor Frontline Bathrooms as National Sales Manager.
Nicola’s wealth of bathroom knowledge will be an asset to her new role of Brand Manager for BAGNODESIGN, where she will oversee all marketing activity across the UK and Europe. Based at the company’s head office in Leeds, Nicola will be responsible for the development and implementation of the company’s UK marketing plans.
Mark Walker, UK Sales Director, comments: “Nicola joins us at an exciting time. Having launched in the UK back in 2012, the BAGNODESIGN brand is now firmly established and has a strong reputation for quality, design-led bathroom solutions, supported by a proven track record of success in the Middle East. Nicola brings with her a wealth of industry experience that will take the brand in the UK and Europe to the next level.”
Centara Hotels & Resorts of Thailand will soft open its second resort in Sri Lanka in spring of this year.
The resort is owned by Softlogic Properties (Pvt) Ltd and will be operated by Centara under a management contract.Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa Sri Lanka is set on the Bentota Peninsula, at the south of the island, with the Bentota River on one side and the Indian Ocean on the other.
The resort’s arrival lounge is situated at Aluthgama, on the inland side of the river, with guests travelling across the water by barge, a journey that takes five minutes.
Centara’s first property in Sri Lanka, Centara Passikudah Resort & Spa, is located on the east coast of the island and opened early in 2013.
“Bentota is one of the most exciting new destinations in Sri Lanka, and our two resorts give us a very significant profile in this strongly growing market,” says Chris Bailey, senior vice president for sales and marketing at Centara Hotels & Resorts.
“The Indian Ocean is a highly important part of our development strategy, and Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa is an outstanding property that will have both a romantic appeal for couples and lots of leisure attractions for families.”
Centara’s area general manager for Sri Lanka Alexandre Glauser says that the Bentota Peninsula offers a unique holiday experience.
“There is the unspoiled charm of the river with its mangroves and wildlife, there is the classic golden tropical beach with calm seas and all kinds of water sports to enjoy, and of course there is all the colour and history of Sri Lanka itself,” he says.
“For guests to Centara Ceysands Resort & Spa, the scene is set with the charming ride across the river on board our ferry, and no matter which room or suite they are staying, the view for guests will be stunning.”
The resort has 165 rooms and suites, including family residences with bunk beds for the children, with all the accommodation featuring views across the river, or across the beach and the ocean.
Restaurant facilities will include Café Bem, serving Sri Lankan and international cuisines along with buffets; 360 Seafood, which specialises in locally sourced seafood; and Ceylon Club, which will have a gourmet selection of Ceylon teas.
Spa Cenvaree will offer traditional Sri Lankan and Indian treatments along with its range of signature Thai therapies, there is a fitness centre, an oceanfront swimming pool with Jacuzzi and a children’s pool, a water sports centre, and a Kids’ Club with separate zones for the youngsters and the teens.
With its own pleasure launch Wayz, the resort will also offer dinner cruises along the Bentota River.
The resort is just a few minutes from Aluthgama railway station. Colombo is reached in less than two hours by road and Colombo Bendaranaike International Airport is 100 kilometres away from the resort.
It was once home to wealthy city merchants in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries before falling into a state of disrepair in the 1800’s.
But 200 years later, one of Edinburgh’s oldest townhouses has been given a new lease of life and re-opened its doors yesterday (Feb 24) offering luxury accommodation at £850 per night.The two bedroom property in Advocate’s Close, off the Royal Mile, pre-dates 1490 and is the latest contemporary offering from the Old Town Chambers serviced apartments, which was recently awarded a five-star rating from VisitScotland.
Blending state-of the-art facilities with centuries old architectural features, such as solid stone walls, original fireplaces and painted wall panels and beams, contrasting against double smoked French oak wooden flooring and Italian tiling, alongside the latest home entertainment system and a 24 hour concierge service, makes it one of the most exclusive and historic places to stay in Scotland.
The 12 month restoration project has been part of the £45 million redevelopment by the Chris Stewart Group to open up some of the Old Town’s hidden closes into a thriving leisure and business destination.
The Old Town Chambers contains 31 apartments comprising of studio, one, two and three bedrooms, as well as a stunning penthouse and the 15th century townhouse. Unique features include original period wall paintings, exposed brick, through to bluetooth Bose sound systems, Smart TVs and a multi-zone heating system in every room. Entry is via a keypad for which every guest has a specific code. Prices range from £130 to £1200 per night.
Fameed Khalique brings a distinctly international collection of world-class materials together under one roof, yet undoubtedly it all started with leather. After working as the Director of Sales and Marketing at Alma Leather, leather was the natural starting point for Fameed when he launched his eponymous brand in 2008. In the five years since its inception, Fameed Khalique has become one of London’s leading suppliers of exquisite finishes and remains at the forefront of constant innovations with leather, a core part of the business.
Fameed has amassed extensive experience in buying, sourcing and bringing high-end leathers to luxury interiors market. A continued interest and commitment to bringing new and innovative leathers to the interior design world has enabled Fameed to communicate new possibilities for a material that he feels is often not reaching its full potential in design.
Fameed’s unrivalled leather collections include a growing range of his own-label leathers often combining unexpected materials such lace bonded to leather, opulent hand-gilded leather panels, leather and silk hand-loomed fabrics by Be Inthavong, hair-on-hide wall and floor-coverings from Kyle Bunting and most recently ingenious waterproof leathers.
The dominance of leather on the fashion runways as a versatile and aspirational material has translated to a similar surge in interest in the luxe fabric within interiors. Fameed strives to identify and develop the most pioneering techniques for creating and using the material to result in something out of the ordinary.
When specifying leather for an interior scheme, Fameed recommends careful consideration of type and application to achieve the desired effect;
For a natural rustic look, use full grain hides that have not been sanded or buffed on the surface of the hide. Pull up leather also has a natural, worn look that will appear more ‘lived in’ with use. Woven leathers in earthy colours are a great way of adding luxury to a rustic scheme.
To create a bold statement and focal point, use corrected-grain and pigmented leather for uniform colour consistency and increased durability. Hair-on-hide leather from the Kyle Bunting collection can be used to create a strong contemporary look.
For a luxuriously textured and unique aesthetic, suede and nubuck create a soft, velvety look – both are created when the hide is split and a layer removed. Embossed, woven, ruched and mixed material leathers such as the leather and silk woven fabrics by Be Inthavong (pictured right) create an unexpected, layered effect within an otherwise simplistic space.
Innovations in leather – Fameed has recently added a remarkable range of waterproof leathers to his stable of unique collections. Perfect for outdoor, yacht, residential and contract use, using specialist technology the leather resists liquid, oil, UV-rays, flame, mould/mildew and is highly stretch and tear resistant even at freezing temperatures.
Fameed comments, “It is no longer enough to specify a general leather and expect to create the exceptional effect that the consumer is looking for. At Fameed Khalique, we are at the forefront of dreaming up and providing entirely unique leathers for use in the home, whether it be a leather woven with water hyacinth or providing the solution for beautiful and indestructible outdoor leather cushions to be used all year round”.
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London will open 6 May 2014. Located on the historic South Bank of the River Thames in the 306-metre-high, glass-clad Shard, the hotel will be the Hong Kong-based luxury hotel group’s third in Europe, following debuts in Paris in 2010 and Istanbul in 2013.As the tallest hotel in Western Europe and the first high-rise hotel in London, the Shangri-La occupies levels 34 to 52 of the 72-storey Shard. Its contemporary interior design complements Renzo Piano’s masterful architecture and the breathtaking views – unmatched by any other hotel in London – unfold in all directions revealing iconic landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.
Every detail of the hotel environment has been taken into consideration – from the extensive collection of original artworks on display to the spectacular grand staircase sweeping across double length floor to ceiling windows, linking levels 34 and 35 within the hotel’s sky lobby.
Guests will be escorted in a high-speed elevator from the hotel’s dedicated entrance on St. Thomas Street to the sky lobby on level 35. Subtle Asian touches in the lobby and lobby lounge will reflect Shangri-La’s heritage, while modern and classic art with pieces from a mix of acclaimed Asian and British artists are showcased throughout public areas.
The hotel’s 202 guestrooms and suites will open from levels 36 to 50 and are amongst the largest in London. Because of The Shard’s spiral shape, each of the spacious guestrooms and suites, which range from 30 to 188 square metres, is individual in layout and design. All feature floor to ceiling windows and unrivalled views across the city, marble-clad bathrooms with heated floors, separate bathtubs, Acqua di Parma amenities and mirrors with integrated television screens. Over a third of these bathrooms have city views.
Deluxe, Premier and Grand Premier guestrooms and suites offer northerly views towards the City and London’s most famous landmarks. Superior guestrooms and suites feature far-reaching vistas over the vibrant areas of the south and towards the historic counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
Some of the most stunning views are from the hotel’s three signature suites that will be unveiled in September. All signature suites overlook St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and down river towards the O2 Arena. The jewel in the crown is the Shangri-La Suite, situated on level 39, providing 180-degree views of London. From the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben to the Tower of London, the view encompasses the River Thames with the Canary Wharf, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Maritime Greenwich dotted along the meandering waterway.
The hotel will feature three wining and dining venues. GŎNG, London’s highest bar on level 52, takes its name from ‘dougong’ – an ancient Chinese structural element of interlocking wooden brackets that will be a component of the bar’s interior. TĪNG, derived from the Chinese word for a living room, is the signature restaurant and lounge on level 35 and LÁNG – the Chinese word for ‘pathway’ – is an artisan deli on the ground floor. Level 52 will also be home to a 24-hour gym and London’s highest infinity pool, and along with GŎNG, level 52 will duly open from 1 July.
Three river-facing event spaces on level 34 offer stunning views and state-of-the-art conferencing technology along with catering services. The largest of the venues, Ren, accommodates up to 140 guests; the other two, Yi and Li, can hold up to 10 and 35 guests, respectively. The grand staircase connecting levels 34 and 35, with its vista of St. Paul’s Cathedral and beyond, will be a picture-perfect location for wedding photography.
Staycity, the Dublin-based serviced apartment operator, is on target for 30% growth over the next 12 months with new properties opening in Lyons, Venice and Greenwich, London.The company currently operates apartments across eight European cities – Dublin, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Paris and Amsterdam – with a total of over 1,000 apartments. Investment in new sites over the next five years will take the Staycity estate to 5,000 apartments by 2019.
“The serviced apartment sector is set for future expansion, driven by the needs of the travelling public. We intend Staycity to become one of the leading brands in the market,” commented CEO Tom Walsh.
“Corporate and leisure guests are now becoming more familiar with the benefits of using serviced apartments and we anticipate that the sector’s share of the short stay market across Europe will grow significantly over the next five years.”
Staycity serviced apartments typically accommodate from two to six people. The apartments are larger than the majority of hotel rooms and have a fully equipped kitchen with dining room/lounge and bathroom. All have 24-hour reception service.
“Serviced apartments usually cost less per person than an average hotel room, particularly for families or small groups. In contrast to hotel rooms, apartments offer more space, independence and flexibility,” added Walsh.
Some 60% of Staycity’s revenue comes from leisure customers, with 40% being mid-week corporate customers. The average stay at a Staycity apartment is four days, with 60% of bookings made directly from Staycity’s website. Around 60% of guests are aged 18-44.
Serviced apartments make up 7% of the short stay market in the UK, compared with 12% in US cities. Across Europe market share is smaller, at just 1%, but the sector is expected to see rapid growth as customers become more familiar with the concept.
Marriott International, Inc. continues its rapid expansion in China with the opening of the 317-room Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview, bringing the total number of properties in China under the flagship Marriott Hotels brand to 15. Marriott International manages the Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview under a long-term agreement with the owner, Shanghai Bao Hua Group.The hotel is situated next to the Multimedia Valley in Zhabei District and offers unparalleled meetings and events facilities and is the only hotel in Shanghai’s city center with two full-sized pillar-less ballrooms, as well as a wide selection of large conference spaces.
Neighboring the Daning Lingshi Park, the largest green space in the downtown area, the hotel provides a tranquil environment surrounded by nature trails, offering the guests the ability to seamlessly switch between work and leisure.
The Shanghai Marriott Hotel Parkview offers 317 rooms and suites that feature scenic views of the park, all with a modern and fresh design by internationally renowned interior design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates. The hotel also provides brand new room amenities by Thann, the natural Thai skincare line, for an enhanced beauty and body care experience.
The hotel is also the perfect choice for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibition). The impressive 2,800 square-meters of meeting space is conveniently located on one floor.
The larger of the hotel’s two pillarless ballrooms measures 1,400 square-meters and features two state-of-the-art 65sqm LED screens, while the other measures 1,000 square-meters and also provides one LED screen. Five flexible function rooms are perfect for small to medium sized sophisticated corporate events. The hotel’s dedicated wedding planning services coupled with its panoramic views across what is Shanghai’s biggest downtown parkland makes it the ideal location for a city wedding.
The hotel is home to four signature food and beverage outlets that are set to redefine the dining landscape in the immediate area for local residents and travelers alike. These include Shanghai City Bistro, an all-day dining restaurant featuring live action cooking stations showcasing traditional favorites and cuisines from around the world. The prestigious Man Ho Chinese Restaurant specializes in authentic Cantonese and Shanghainese cuisine. Eight private dining rooms provide an exclusive and comfortable backdrop for a more intimate gathering of friends and family or for entertaining large or small groups; Tatsumi is a stylishly-designed contemporary Japanese & Korean dining experience hidden away on the hotel’s second floor offering a tasteful blend of north Asian delicacies.
Guests can also relax in The Lounge which serves a selection of soft drinks and signature afternoon tea sets in The Lobby, an engaging setting where business and leisure intersect.
The hotel’s premium amenities include a 24-hour fitness center and indoor swimming pool, as well as access to a golf practice green and a tennis court.
High up on the 23rd floor alongside the executive rooms and suites, the Executive Lounge offers business services as well as complimentary food and drinks for Executive Floor guests.
The boutique hotel, the Varsity Hotel & Spa in Cambridge, are launching their newly developed gymnasium and spa concept for 2014. The hotel is the ultimate in relaxed luxury and style; the riverside location, rooftop terrace, outstanding restaurant, full-service spa and modern décor combine to make this hotel amongst the most luxurious in Cambridge.Unlike many independent hotels that provide only a small gym offering, The Glassworks Spa at The Varsity is a destination wellness centre, equipped with a wealth of health care professionals to get guests up to speed on their healthy living goals with personal trainers, sports massage therapists, nutritionists, and even hairdressers and nail technicians for a 360 makeover!
Housed in a beautiful Eighteenth Century glass warehouse, the Conran-designed gym has been carefully designed to recreate a buzzing New York style space, with the latest equipment for an optimum work-out, with personalisation and social features. The kit incorporates touch screens to transport users to picturesque locations, enabling them to take a romantic cycle ride from Paris to Reims, or to make like Bradley Wiggins with a route through the beautiful Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region with its challenging inclines.
2014 also sees the relaunch of the Spa area, with its signature Jacuzzi area that overlooks the river Cam: surely one of the most peaceful spots in all of Cambridge. Heated relaxation benches allow guests to wind down in a luxury mosaic tiled space, before heading into the sauna and steam area, lit to feel that guests are relaxing under twinkling stars.
Worldhotels is announcing another addition to its growing portfolio of branded hotels: Worldhotel Cristoforo Colombo Milan is the first hotel in the city – and with the Worldhotel Ripa Roma – the second in Italy to carry the Worldhotel name. The hotel relies on Worldhotels’ global exposure and the group’s commercial strength to maximise its international business. Worldhotel Cristoforo Colombo is located in the heart of the city, right on Corso Buenos Aires – one of Milan’s most frequented shopping streets – and offers 119 recently refurbished guest rooms, state-of-the-art meeting facilities, its exclusive Hado SPA and the renowned L’Uovo di Colombo restaurant.
With this high-quality addition, Worldhotels is strengthening its presence in Milan, where it currently represents five hotels, all true ambassadors of authentic Italian hospitality. The group sees great potential for growth in Italy and aims to expand its portfolio in other key destinations in the country.
Worldhotels’ unique branding solution is an ideal alternative to standard franchise contracts. The fee structure for this model is extremely competitive as it is based purely on brand performance in total room revenue delivery. It is therefore the perfect solution for owners of upscale and luxury hotels looking for maximum commercial support, highest feasible returns and least possible operational restrictions. Of the group’s portfolio of almost 500 hotels worldwide, already 20 are fully branded under the Worldhotels identity, two of them in Italy: Worldhotel Ripa Roma in Rome and Worldhotel Cristoforo Colombo in Milan.
Visit Naturalmat’s brand new Devon showroom! Test their range of natural and organic mattresses and see the choice of great new beds and headboards, as well as all their lovely organic bedding, duvets pillows and mattress toppers. Grab a steaming hot coffee (or tea) and let Naturalmat show you the way to a better night’s sleep.
The new showroom is upstairs at one end of the factory (you could even nip next door and see the mattresses being made!)
Unit 1, Odham’s Wharf Topsham, Devon EX3 0PD
Opening hours: Monday- Friday (9.00am – 5.00pm)
Contact us on +44 (0) 1392 877 247 or click here for more information.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced it has signed an agreement to open a new 172-room Aloft hotel in Al Ain, the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, UAE. Scheduled to debut in 2016, Aloft Al Ain will be the first Starwood property to open in Al Ain and the second Aloft hotel in the UAE joining Aloft Abu Dhabi, which opened in 2009. Aloft Al Ain will be an integral part of the city’s spectacular 500,000 square metre mixed-use development surrounding the iconic 25,000-seat Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, poised to be the most advanced sporting arena in the Middle East. The development will include office space, residential units, family entertainment, retail shops and dining.
Aloft Al Ain will feature 172 loft-like rooms, including two presidential suites, all featuring the brand’s signature loft-like ceilings, oversized windows, an ultra-comfortable platform bed and large walk-in showers with complimentary Bliss Spa® products. The newly constructed Aloft will also offer the brand’s signature W XYZ(sm) bar, an atmospheric public space where guests can mix and mingle. Additional amenities will include the RE:Charge(SM) fitness centre and RE:Fuel (SM) by Aloft, a convenient grab-n-go kiosk with an array of sweet, savoury and healthy food, snacks and drinks available 24 hours a day. For meetings and presentations, the new Aloft will offer two creative spaces equipped with the latest audiovisual technology.
Many hotels use decorators who are ‘names’ but have no experience of designing hotels. A five star hotel in a leading continental city used local celebrities as its decorators for a ‘ladies only floor’. leaving aside the dubious policy of ‘ladies only floors’ the idea that fashion of pop celebrities could create exciting hotel interiors was seen as flawed within a year. In the first instance it proved difficult to keep rooms clean as materials chosen soiled easily and were not easy to clean. In a domestic environment maybe the soiling would not have happened, but activities in hotel bedrooms don’t necessarily follow domestic patterns. So furnishing fabrics quickly became soiled or just wore out. Furniture proved too light weight for hotel use too, and electrical kit suffered broken doors and switches.
The evidence of soiling etc. was made worse by a wrong choice of colour too. Colour can also make life difficult for housekeepers, especially if lighting levels are too low for them to see dirt. There is a well know UK chain who’s hotels are always grubby because lighting levels are too low for housekeepers to see to clean properly.
carpet specifications too need to be considered in relation to areas the carpet is to be laid in. Seaming of lengths too needs to be understood in relation to traffic pattern. One five star hotel had a kitchen on one side of the corridor and the dining room on the other. Sensor operated kitchen doors opened every time a guest went past, but also the carpet section between the two areas was visibly wearing differently to other areas. The designer needs to think things through carefully. It is no go positioning a smoke detector if it is right outside the kitchen extraction vent.
( I was called by an hotel manager on Christmas as their smoke alarm kept going off. When the fire brigade attended for the 4th time in frustration she called me. I was being briefed in reception on the problem when i saw a Christmas pudding on its way into the restaurant being set up for presentation. The waiter stopped, poured over a measure of brandy and lit it. Waiting until it was flaming nicely he carried to cheers into the dining room – and the smoke detector above the dining room doors et off the fire alarms for the 5th time….)
As with fabrics so with furniture. Specialist contractors understand the constraints that are imposed by contract supply and specification. Their construction methods have been changed over the years in response to the experience they have gained. Specialist understanding of the hospitality market makes those suppliers in our Directory the knowledgeable and dependable for the designer. they are a great resource not just as suppliers but as the knowledge base to assists designers in resolving and understanding issues in hotels.
Rule 4: Make sure everything is fit for purpose and of contract quality
Have you experienced new ideas, fresh thinking and improved creativity as a result of your daily shower? A new survey conducted on behalf of Hansgrohe shows that 72% of the globe has so you’re not alone; in fact, 14% of people have showers with the only reason being to generate new ideas.The survey, developed for the launch of the new extended Raindance Select shower range from Hansgrohe, reveals that the feel of the water together with the tranquility of the shower experience and being alone helps generate new ideas and fresh thinking. The Raindance Select shower range allows you to choose hard, soft or massaging jets at the push of a button – enhancing your shower experience and hopefully your creativity.
Other interesting findings from the survey include: * People spend an average of 70 minutes in the bathroom each day * Women spend longer in the bathroom with an average of 73.39 minutes versus men’s average of 67.08 minutes * 25-34 year olds shower most often and 55-64 year olds shower least often * Across all countries, more members of the younger age groups (18-24 and 25-34) showered specifically for new ideas, fresh thinking or problem solving
Scott Barry Kaufman Ph.D., a cognitive psychologist and expert in the field of creativity, commented: “It’s both surprising and fascinating to learn that people are more creative in the shower than they are at work, with Hansgrohe’s findings reinforcing existing research on the importance of relaxation for creative thinking. The relaxing, solitary and non-judgmental shower environment may afford creative thinking by allowing the mind to wander freely, and causing people to be more open to their inner stream of consciousness and daydreams.”
Richard Grohe, Deputy CEO of Hansgrohe, said: “As one of the leading innovators in the sector, at Hansgrohe we firmly believe that you get great ideas under a great shower. We are delighted to offer our customers the new extended Raindance Select range which is yet another example of our attention to detail and quality. We’re among the first in the industry to produce a button to change jet sprays, offering convenience and a truly bespoke shower experience.”
Hansgrohe’s Raindance Select shower range offers a choice of three jet sprays at the touch of a button (Rain, RainAir and Whirl) – blending innovation, and design with convenience. ‘Gentle’ and ‘strong’ shower rain together with a ‘massaging’ spray offer a bespoke shower experience for consumers and Hansgrohe is proud to be among the first companies to offer this innovation.
Meliá Hotels International signed an agreement to manage three new hotels under the Meliá Hotels & Resorts brand, to be developed in the tourist destination of Saidia Med, including a beach hotel, club hotel and luxury serviced apartments.Meliá Hotels International has joined forces with SDS, a partnership between the major Moroccan group CDG and the Moroccan Tourism Development Fund.
Anasshouir Alami, Chairman of SDS explained that “Meliá has been chosen to operate the new luxury hotels due to its leadership and international experience in leisure travel, which will be key to the development and success of Saidia Med, and also its ability to diversify products to improve the segmentation and attractiveness of the destination.”
Meliá joins other international hotel brands signed up to the scheme, ( GDC already owns over 8,000 existing beds and has more than 5,300 under development) and will add 736 new rooms to the destination portfolio
The project consists of three very distinct hotels, all sharing the same “Meliá” brand attributes and standards of excellence, and all in the five-star category:
1) A Meliá “Beach Hotel” next to the beach in an exceptional location beside the golf course and with sea frontage, with 396 rooms, a Spa ,Convention Centre, 4 restaurants and 3 bars, a kid’s club and a superb beach club. It’s estimated that the hotel will require an investment of 440 million dirhams (€39 million) and will open in 2016.
2) A “Club Hotel” for families overlooking the golf course with 150 spacious rooms for family leisure for both Moroccan and international guests, especially focused on golf for adults and with play areas and pools for kids. It will open in 2016 after an investment estimated at 200 million dirhams (€18 million).
3) Thirdly, Meliá luxury holiday apartments alongside the beach hotel – sharing its exceptional sea views, with 190 fully-equipped rooms to complete the range of Saidia Med accommodation options, requiring an investment of 300 million dirhams (€27 million) and opening in 2017.
The Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International, Gabriel Escarrer, said: “Along with growing leisure travel, we are also seeing a growing demand for superior quality, and travellers seeking the exclusive and unique experience that our Meliá brand offers guests, thanks to its unique attributes and service culture. Almost 60 years of experience and the leadership of Meliá in the leisure hotel business offer the firmest guarantees for the development of this spectacular destination.”
The three Meliá hotels are the company’s first in Morocco, underscoring the confidence of the leading Spanish hotel company with a presence and market-leading position in key global vacation destinations, in the potential and values of this beautiful destination on the northeast coast of Morocco.
Leading UK shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, have designed brand new packaging for all their products which proudly displays the company’s logo, Made in Britain logo, the CE Mark and also important Health and Safety logos. As well as the packaging displaying a new look with these printed logos, a new thicker material is also being used to ensure durability of the packaging and protection of the product. Roman has proudly flown the flag for British design and manufacture since they were founded in 1985. The leading UK shower manufacturer proudly promotes that their products are made in the UK by presenting the logo on their newly designed product packaging, on their website and social media platforms along with marketing materials and point of sale merchandising. Roman has seen customers moving away from imports in favour of British made products due to their trusted quality, specific sizes and tailor made products to the UK market and the excellence of their after sales and customer service. Roman has capitalised on the fact that the Made in Britain logo not only appeals to the UK market but it is also seen as a major selling point in Asia and Commonwealth countries. Roman has seen a clear trend towards the support of British manufacturers as customers recognise the importance of investing in high quality products for their bathrooms. Roman sees it as a big advantage to market their products as a UK brand and it is a key differential of theirs as people see it as a mark of quality.
The CE Mark is presented on all Roman packaging which shows that the company are fully committed to the legal requirements sweeping through Europe relating to their Shower Enclosures. Displaying this logo on the packaging shows that Roman conforms to the new CE marking standard, which became compulsory for all construction products from the 1st July 2013. The CE marking indicates that a product complies with EU regulation, it is a self-certification scheme and it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure their products conform to the relevant regulations. As well as displaying the CE mark on all their packaging it is also included within their literature, their individual product instruction manuals and on their website. All of their CE documents for each product can be found on their website, so customers can have quick and easy access to this information.
The newly designed packaging importantly incorporates the necessary health and safety logos, which include the ‘two man lift’, ‘handle with care’ and the ‘fragile’ logo. These logos cover the packaging to ensure they cannot be missed and as they are all images with no text they can be understood universally. They raise awareness to everyone who comes into contact with the packaging to inform them that the products must be handled with care and they must be lifted by two people.
Along with the Made in Britian logo, CE mark and the health and safety logos, the material for the cardboard packaging has also been redesigned. As Roman products are becoming heavier with the glass thickness increasing and increased height of shower enclosures the company has ensured protection and safe delivery of the products by bringing in new packaging. This new packaging is extremely thick and strong to ensure durability and protection of the product whilst going through the delivery process.
David Osborne, Managing Director of Roman commented: “We invested heavily in packaging machinery in 2011 and this now makes a bespoke box to tightly fit round every product and delivers them to the line. Now we want it to reflect what is important to the Roman Brand and to our customers. Our packaging proudly displays that we design and manufacture our products in Britain and shows we follow the regulations of the CE marking and that we make sure all our products are delivered and handled with care, which meets our high standards of quality customer service.”
A pretty rural inn and restaurant, The Mermaid Inn in Ellington, Cambridgeshire, has been put on the market, with selling agents Colliers International Hotel’s specialists inviting offers in the region of £300,000.The inn, located just a few minutes’ drive from Grafham Water – a well-known mecca for reservoir trout anglers, walkers, cyclists and sailors alike – boasts tremendous character with exposed beams and open fireplaces; two lodge-style en suite bedrooms; a sizeable owners’ flat; traditional bar and restaurant; and trade gardens.
Ashley Clark, Director in the Hotels team at Colliers International, said: “The Mermaid Inn is a charming property with a huge amount to offer.
“The combination of its quaint village location and being within walking distance of the striking landscape of Grafham Water, give it a unique selling point which really bolsters its overall attraction and obvious trading potential.
“Given some thoughtful marketing and careful positioning, I think this property could be a budding business – it really is a hidden gem and a wonderful opportunity for the right owners.”
Selling agent Colliers International is inviting offers in the region of £300,000 for The Mermaid Inn, Ellington, Huntingdon, PE28 0AB.
Since 1998, Stylematters have been bringing their furniture design and manufacturing skills together to create tailor-made furniture right here in the UK in their dedicated workshops.
Stylematters have a highly skilled and motivated team committed to providing you with the very best of British craftsmanship and vision.Expertly Interpreting Your Needs
– Marking up bespoke patterns. – Up to 24 panels on each chair.
Quality in the Making
Frames lovingly constructed from solid beech and rigorously checked to ensure quality and consistency.
Sprung and webbed options and specialist foams provide the perfect level of comfort for every environment.
Tailored and hand crafted upholstery in an endless range of fabrics complete the story.
– Hand finishing the hardwood frames. – From initial sketch through to detailed design and prototype.
The Byron Collection
Just Imagine…
A short time ago this sofa was just an idea, a sketch.
The development experts at Stylematters worked on every detail to keep the look, ensuring they created a practical, hard-wearing and comfortable final result.
Premier Inn has announced plans to open a 157 bedroom ‘hub by Premier Inn’ hotel on Rose Street, in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town in late 2015. This will be the second planned hub hotel for Edinburgh, following the announcement in December to open a 131 bedroom hotel in the city’s historic Old Town in the former Caltongate area.‘hub by Premier Inn’ is a new generation of compact, city centre hotels where style and comfort are twinned with innovative digital connectivity. Modern, contemporary rooms are meticulously designed to utilise every space, whilst creating a calm haven at the heart of the bustling city. Guests can book, check-in online and personalise their room before arrival via the ‘hub app’, leaving them free to relax and unwind. ‘hub by Premier Inn’ is the smart choice for travellers looking for great value, stylish design and a central location.
Patrick Dempsey, Managing Director, Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants commented: “As a city, Edinburgh ticks all the boxes as a perfect location for our ‘hub’ brand. It’s a popular tourist and business destination with strong demand for good value, quality hotels. We believe ‘hub’ will prove to be a tremendous success, appealing to more price sensitive customers seeking quality accommodation in the centre of the city.”
The latest Edinburgh ‘hub by Premier Inn’ is a leasehold site and is being developed by Old Mutual Property Fund, managed by CBRE Global Investors. The smaller room format gives access to a broader range of buildings in city centres and will have 25% lower build and operating costs compared to a Central Edinburgh Premier Inn.
Alistair Fisher, Portfolio Manager, CBRE Global Investors said: “This is an exciting project for us and we are delighted to be working in partnership with Whitbread as they continue to roll out their innovative ‘hub’ concept. With this partnership, we are able to modernise an existing building and change the use to fit in with the surrounding area, as it has evolved into a more leisure orientated destination.
“The transaction is in line with our approach of targeted investment in strong locations and adding value through active management. It will drive significant performance for the Old Mutual Property Fund and will build upon the strong returns the Fund generated in 2013.”
Hotel group Thistle has made a £6.9 million investment in its Aberdeen portfolio with a major refurbishment programme at two of its properties. The improvements at Thistle Aberdeen Airport and Thistle Aberdeen Altens are part of a planned programme of works taking place across the chain and will provide enhanced facilities for both leisure and business travellers.A £4 million five-year refurbishment of bedrooms and public areas at the Altens venue is in its final phase. The last stage will cost £336,000 and involves a revamp of 36 rooms, including six which will be converted into studio apartments. The apartments will be fitted out with kitchen facilities to respond to the needs of a growing number of long-stay guests.
Hotel manager Kris Manship says the new-style rooms will appeal to business travellers working with energy-focused companies in the south of the city.
He adds, “We had one guest last year who stayed for a total of 265 nights, and there are many, many others who also spend a significant number of nights at the hotel. Altens is home to a large number of oil and gas operators and oil service companies, and in recent years we have seen a trend for personnel to stay at the hotel during the week and return home elsewhere in the country at weekends.
“When guests are staying in a property for that length of time, they want it to be a home from home and by offering additional facilities such as mini-kitchens we will be better placed than ever before to respond to that need.”
The refurbishment at the four-star Thistle Aberdeen Altens is on schedule to be completed by the end of March.
Meanwhile, a five-year £2.9 million refurbishment programme focused on bedrooms and public areas at of the airport hotel, which is also rated as four-star, was completed in January. The final phase of the programme resulted in 37 bedrooms being redecorated.
General manager Alison Christie explains, “It’s essential that we continue to offer a very high standard of accommodation in an increasingly competitive market in Aberdeen. The investment that has been made represents a firm commitment from Thistle towards the city and towards the collective drive across the hotel industry in the north east to raise the bar on the customer experience.”
Both venues, along with the Thistle Caledonian in the city centre, are performing strongly. Ms Christie adds, “There have been major hotel developments in Aberdeen city centre and at the airport in the past two years, but that has not resulted in any kind of displacement issues. Demand continues to be exceptional and even with additional hotels due to open in 2015, we believe that occupancy levels will be sustained at current levels.
“The buoyant economy in the north east has enabled companies to undergo significant expansion and as a result their workforces are also growing. The knock-on impact is that office space is at a premium, so hotels such as those in the Thistle group that provide facilities for conferencing and training are also seeing an increase from that business stream.”
A fresh new look on a classic Bauhaus range demonstrates a hint of modernity to a traditional wood finish.The Celeste Black Ash basin unit, which is available in a range of 60cm, 80cm and 110cm sizes has an elegantly curved profile and a sleek cast mineral marble basin to match, available with a single tap hole as standard, or an option of no tap hole or three tap holes made to special order. The range also includes a useful tower storage unit and a stylish back lit mirror to complete the look.
Celeste is a popular choice that has been a hit in the existing American Walnut veneer, Graphite, Calico and White Gloss finishes. Marten Baker, lead designer on the project comments, “Traditional is back, and Black Ash is a sophisticated alternative for customers who want to add a touch of 1960’s glamour. We’ve added our own modern and stylish twist on a classic – something we are renowned for in the industry.”
All units in the Bauhaus Celeste range have a soft close, pull to open function with a chromed alloy handle. Optional extras for the basin unit include internal drawers for extra storage, draw organisers, drawer liners and an under carcass services cover. Complementary brassware is available from sister company Crosswater.
MLR Networks was commission by De Vere Hotels to install a high speed data network by Power Ethernet in their new style of premium room upgrade in selected hotels; the “Chamber Unique”. The ‘Chambre Unique’, offers guest new multimedia technology such as Sky TV, Wireless Bose sound and Smart Theatre TV; letting them connect their smartphones and tablets to surf the web or play downloaded content on the new Smart TV box.
The new room upgrades had to be ‘soft refurb’ only; so cutting into walls and ceilings for new cabling was not an option. The rooms had to be on sale as soon as possible; there was no time or budget for making good or additional building work.
MLR Networks, with partner Power Ethernet, came up with a quick and simple solution which provides Internet connectivity in the required rooms using Power Ethernet’s innovative Powerline Sockets. This patented device incorporates a four port, high speed Ethernet switch as well as a filtered 13 amp socket and simply replaces the existing electrical socket in each room.
The network was deployed in a matter of days and MLR Networks managed to fit into the hotel’s normal routine maintenance in order to minimise disruption.
The result is a business grade data network capable of streaming HD video, accommodates the demand for new device connections or creating sub-networks to support relocation of WiFi access points, deployments of IP-Voice phones, CCTV cameras, building management systems, or any other future network base system.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® has announced that its sizzling Aloft brand is ramping up portfolio growth in California with a new hotel planned for Rancho Bernardo, an upscale community in San Diego North. Owned by HP Investors, LLC and managed by Azul Hospitality Group, Aloft Rancho Bernardo will be the sixth property in California when it opens in mid-2016. The new-build Aloft will feature over 140 spacious, loft-like rooms, state-of-the-art meeting space and a buzzing, social atmosphere. It will also open the Aloft Sarasota in Florida in August 2015.A short ride from downtown San Diego and the San Diego International Airport (SAN), the new Aloft will be situated at the entrance of the Rancho Bernardo corporate park, home to the regional offices for Sony, Hewlett-Packard, BAE Systems, Northrup Grumman, Teradata, Cymer, Millennium Laboratories, and many other companies. Guests will be close to several golf courses, the Bernardo Winery, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, shopping areas and outdoor recreation. Aloft Rancho Bernardo will offer more than 3,000 square feet of market-leading meeting space, a rooftop “Splash” pool, fitness center and underground parking.
Located at One Palm Avenue, Aloft Sarasota will be walking distance to the Florida Studio Theatre, Sarasota Opera House, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, the Florida State College of Medicine – Sarasota campus, and numerous shops and restaurants. Guests will enjoy easy access to the city’s beaches and leading attractions such as the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art and Mote Marine Aquarium. Hotel amenities will include an outdoor Splash pool, W XYZ®bar, 24-hour fitness center and 610 square feet of flexible meeting space, ideal for both business meetings and social gatherings.
Perfect for creating an air of city living sophistication in the contemporary bathroom, BAGNODESIGN has introduced Urban, a complete collection of sanitaryware, furniture and brassware that offers minimalistic style throughout.With all the hallmarks of quality, design and detail that you would expect from this international manufacturer of design-led bathroom solutions, Urban from BAGNODESIGN brings the very latest Italian styling to the modern bathroom environment.
Featuring softened cubic lines that are a major trend in modern bathroom design, Urban sanitaryware includes a wall-hung WC and bidet, along with a choice of co-ordinating washbasins, which can be wall mounted or supplied as an under-counter version. The perfect accompaniment to the sanitaryware and providing an ideal storage solution in the smaller inner-city bathroom, is the Urban vanity unit. With its handle-less design, the furniture is sleek and minimal whilst ensuring a clutter-free finish in the busiest of bathroom spaces. Available in a choice of five finishes, the vanity unit also comes in three widths for complete flexibility of design.
Completing the Urban line-up is a new range of ultra-thin brassware, which is guaranteed to be a focal point of the contemporary bathroom. A full range of brassware is available in the collection, from basin, bath and bidet mixers through to multiple concealed thermostatic shower mixers. Available in either a chrome or stainless steel finish, this new brassware, as with the entire collection of Urban bathroom solutions, brings an air of geometric sophistication to the modern bathroom environment.
Jupiter Hotels has completed the renovation of signature event spaces at three of its hotels in Brighton, Maidstone and Manchester.The iconic Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel has unveiled the £60,000 refurbishment of its ‘Ballroom’ event space ahead of the property’s 150-year anniversary in 2014. The new room, which will be able to host 180-seated guests, embraces original Victorian features, with contemporary additions such as chandeliers bringing a genuinely glamorous feel to the space.
The new Heart of Kent Suite at the Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel becomes the largest hotel event space in the county, able to host 650-seated guests. Striking local artwork inspired by the “Garden of England’s” beautiful landscape has been added to the room – which also benefits from an abundance of natural light and a high ceiling.
In October, renovation work on the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel’s International Suite was completed, following a £500,000 investment. The space, which is able to accommodate 800 guests theatre-style and 650 guests for a banquet, becomes one of the North-West’s largest event facilities.
Jupiter Hotels CEO, Shane Harris commented: “Across our 26 hotels, we’re committed to providing truly exceptional meeting and conference spaces which leave a lasting impression with those who attend events at our properties. We ensure that cutting-edge technology and eye-catching interior design are incorporated into renovation projects that we complete – which our new event spaces in Brighton, Manchester and Maidstone are testament to.”
East Sussex-based interior designer Helen Hooper, of HH Interiors who worked on all three projects commented: “The new meeting and event spaces are different in their own right, but there’s continuity in the design, which is an important part of maintaining Jupiter Hotels’ identity. The spaces are bright and glamorous – but versatile also, ideal for all kinds of gatherings from weddings to award ceremonies.”
The four-star Mercure Brighton Seafront Hotel boasts an enviable location, situated on the city’s seafront with fantastic views of the English Channel and close proximity to Brighton’s famous Lanes. The hotel, built in 1864 celebrates its 150-year anniversary in 2014.
The Mercure Maidstone Great Danes Hotel is set in 26 acres of beautiful Kent countryside and offers 126 bedrooms, as well as a health club and spa. Close to junction eight of the M20 and adjacent to Leeds Castle – the four-star rated hotel benefits from 500 car parking spaces and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout.
Recently awarded four-star status by the AA, the Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel features 280 bedrooms and is a short walk from Manchester Piccadilly railway station. The hotel features 10 meeting rooms and boasts complimentary Wi-Fi throughout.
Going up to town from Seaford is relatively easy, letting the train take the strain. There are only three direct trains a day though, and the last of these gets in to town at 10.00. As my meeting wasn’t until mid afternoon I thought I would pop into the Tate. Not the modern bit , which seems to me to be mainly froth, but the Tate Britain, the original Tate that I first visited in 1967.
The Tate has followed various foibles of various Keepers through deep green walls etc., but the latest incarnation for the first time respects the original building, and the architect and interior designer have allowed it to speak, holding their egos in check with quite splendid results. The is a lovely building and the subtle paint colours used allow its form to sing, whilst the modern alterations don’t hide but are done with great sensitivity yet power. The results are a delight.
It is not just the Friends that gain a new room, although it is not really a room, more seats along the sides of a corridor, and in that respect not quite as functional as previously although roomier, but the whole circulation area that gains a feeling of space and grace. Maybe it was because I was early on a weekday morning and there weren’t many people around but the ground floor around the side entrance seemed a calm oasis, with corridors to the library and the restaurant looking the part as the areas serving the premier gallery of 20th Century art in Europe.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced it will debut its W Hotels brand in the Netherlands with the new W Amsterdam, scheduled to open in Autumn 2015. Owned by STAG Europe (Grafenau) BV, the hotel will be located on the prestigious Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam, behind the Royal Palace and just steps from the city’s iconic canal district with its vibrant restaurants, bars and nightlife scene. An ideal venue, W Amsterdam will also offer 480 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space, including two Great Rooms and two smaller meeting rooms. In addition, W Amsterdam will boast FIT® state-of-the-art fitness centre and WIRED 24-hour business centre.
W Amsterdam will occupy a former Telephone Exchange building, a historic property in Dam Square constructed in the Amsterdam School style of architecture. The building will be re-imagined by award-winning practices OFFICE WINHOV of Amsterdam and Tel Aviv-based BK Architecture, including full restoration of historical elements combined with a new, contemporary design.
A stone’s throw away from the famed South Bank and landmark attractions such as the London Eye, Tate Modern and St Paul’s Cathedral, the beautifully designed contemporary Novotel London Blackfriars became one of the most recent additions to the ever expanding Accor portfolio of hotels in the capital.Challenged with creating a sleek ‘urban’ inspired interior scheme, the team at Proof Consultancy Ltd specified bespoke Chelsom lighting throughout the public areas designed to accentuate the hotel’s styling, demonstrating how Chelsom’s expertise complements interior designers’ skills to turn their concepts in to reality.
Chelsom produced a myriad of striking custom- designed fixtures for the bar, restaurant and reception areas featuring varying designs of matt black shades with contemporary lines and shapes at the forefront. A duo of 5 armed pendants provide dramatic centrepieces above the bar, black powder coated frames support a contemporary styled cluster of cotton shades positioned at varying heights to create visual impact whilst maximising the light output in the bar area.
A succession of industrial style wall lights run down the main wall of the restaurant featuring shallow tapered drum shades suspended from long reach arm brackets designed to throw pockets of ambient lighting on to the tables below while both the bar and breakout areas are lit by slim curved arm pendants supporting over- sized statement shades lined in a sumptuous sunflower yellow pongee silk.
Reflecting the city locations favoured by the Novotel brand, the contemporary lighting scheme blends efficiency with superior design resulting in greatly enhanced aesthetics of the ‘urban chic’ aura Proof have created throughout.
Travelodge has recently announced it has exchanged contracts with Wilton Place Ltd for a new hotel in central Oxford – at the northern end of Cowley Road. The 66-room hotel which represents a £2.5 million investment is scheduled to open in spring 2015. This will be Travelodge’s third property in Oxford and it will also be the closest budget hotel to the centre of Oxford – offering visitors a more convenient and affordable place to stay to explore the historic city.
Under its £57 million refurbishment programme, Travelodge has committed to spending £1.3m on its five existing Oxfordshire hotels.
Last year Travelodge refurbished its 40-bed Burford Cotswolds, 36-bed Oxford Wheatley and 51-bed Thame hotels. This incorporated the new Travelodge room design, which has been created by the hotel chain’s customers. All refurbished bedrooms receive new Travelodge Dreamer beds, which are deemed in the industry as the Rolls Royce of beds.
In 2014 the 133-bed Bicester Cherwell Valley and 197-bed Oxford Peartree hotels will undergo the new brand refurbishment.
Andrew Silverwood of Wright Silverwood Chartered Surveyors acted on behalf of Travelodge, for the exchange of contracts.
Tony O’Brien, UK Development Director of Travelodge Hotels, commented:
“Finding a location for good quality, affordable hotel accommodation located close to the centre of Oxford is difficult so we are delighted to have exchanged contracts for this Cowley Road property.
“Oxford has 9.5 million visitors a year, a thriving economy and a population that has grown by 12% over the last decade. The demand for our two existing hotels that serve Oxford is very high and saw us accommodate 71,000 people last year. The Cowley Road hotel will enable us to meet the expectation of our customers that we secure the best possible locations across the UK.”
Pullman, Accor’s upscale international brand, announces the opening of the Pullman Saigon Centre, its 3rd hotel in Vietnam. Pullman’s expansion in Vietnam, with its resort on Bac My An’s idyllic beaches and its two addresses in the country’s business hubs of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, reflects the brand’s “Work & Play” spirit that reconciles business and pleasure.The Pullman Saigon Centre boasts a strategic location in the heart of District 1, close to Ben Thanh Market and the major tourist attractions with stunning views of the city. Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is located east of the Mekong Delta in southern part of Vietnam. It is Vietnam’s largest city and economic hub, known for its vibrant cultural scene and business activity.
The 306-room Pullman Saigon Centre features a contemporary design, a wide range of technological facilities, four bars and restaurants and five meeting venues. Like the brand’s two other properties in the country, it redefines the standards of international upscale hotels in Vietnam.
Pullman Saigon Centre offers the brand’s best signature services: Welcomer, optimal connectivity with the Connectivity by Pullman concept (free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, Quadriga’s Personal Media NetworkTM mobile application), the Co-Meeting offer for business event and functions, the Pullman bed, a walk-in rain shower, Vinoteca by Pullman, and Fit and Spa Lounge by Pullman.
The Autograph Collection is thrilled to announce its debut in three of the world’s most exciting destinations. This season, Autograph Collection proudly welcomes Pier One Sydney Harbour in Sydney, Australia, the ocean front Pier South Resort in San Diego, California, and the Hotel Chicago (formerly the Hotel Sax) in Chicago, Illinois. Nearing 60 hotels worldwide, these three new extraordinary hotel experiences represent Autograph Collection’s entrée into each locale.Pier One Sydney Harbor – Sydney, Australia
Representing Autograph Collection’s debut in Australia, Pier One Sydney Harbour offers an exclusive waterfront experience in the heart of one of the world’s most glamorous destinations.
Located alongside the harbor, the hotel’s Front Restaurant & Bar offers alfresco dining on the Pier complemented by a modern Australian menu and extensive wine list. As an added element, with the hotel’s prime waterside location, guests can arrive in style by water taxi or by yacht via the hotel’s private pontoon which provides direct water access to nearby attractions including the Opera House, Manly and Darling Harbour.
Pier South Resort – San Diego, California
Autograph Collection is thrilled to announce the opening of its first resort in Southern California, the beachfront boutique Pier South Resort in San Diego. With 78 suite-style accommodations, a new coastal tavern and quintessential California ambience, this intimate boutique hotel provides the ultimate four-star coastal escape, just steps from the sand and 20 minutes from downtown San Diego’s vibrant Gaslamp District.
The resort is also home to San Diego’s most highly-anticipated destination, SEA180º. This contemporary coastal tavern is led by Cohn Restaurant Group, one of the most in-demand names in the San Diego culinary scene and operators of some of the city’s hottest restaurants. The boldly-hued indoor space features Philippe Beltran-designed décor, sky-high glass windows, a large restaurant patio and a rooftop space with 360-degree views that is poised to be the most sought-after event venue in San Diego.
In addition to exceptional dining, amenities and spacious accommodations, Pier South Resort will also feature a full service spa by Dames Day Spa.
The hotel’s design swirls modern style with classic elements of the Southern California beach lifestyle, for a sophisticated laid back experience free from dated nautical themes. Each of its 620-square-foot suites showcases clean design, refined textures and seamless technology, plus custom appointments and textiles, floor-to-ceiling windows, separate living areas, private balconies and dramatic ocean views.
As a LEED Silver-Certified property, Pier South Resort will utilize water conservation technologies and harness the California sun for solar cooling and heating. The property is also a major advocate for beach conservation and nearby wildlife sanctuaries, and also offers guided hikes for guests.
Hotel Chicago – Chicago, Illinois
Formerly the Hotel Sax and representing Autograph Collection’s debut in Chicago, Hotel Chicago pays homage to the very best of the “Windy City.” The hotel’s artistic décor and eclectic surroundings provide a perfect backdrop for its setting in the city’s downtown River North area.
Visiting London on Wednesday 12 February 2014, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Mr Hisham Zaazou, spoke frankly of the challenges Egypt has faced during the last three years and continues to tackle moving forward.Mr Zaazou commented that on-going unrest in Cairo focused around the third anniversary of the 2011 revolution, had resulted in widespread international misperception of the rest of Egypt as an open and safe destination for tourists.
“The issues we continue to face on the path to democracy are ‘Egyptian-on-Egyptian’ in their nature and are focused solely in our capital Cairo. International visitors have not been targeted,” stated Mr Zaazou.
“However, events in Cairo are being perceived as happening across Egypt which is simply not the case. For the time being, we will adopt a pragmatic approach of not promoting Cairo and focus on the rest of Egypt – Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea. There’s one million square kilometres of country beyond Cairo that is unrivalled in its appeal to UK visitors.”
In September 2013, only 300,000 tourists visited Egypt, a drop of 90 percent compared to September 2012. With four million Egyptians directly dependent on tourism, and a further 16 million indirectly dependent, Mr Zaazou spoke passionately of his uncompromising mission to reverse international perception of Egypt.
“We are adopting a three pronged approach to reinvigorating tourism. Firstly, we are working to develop and reinstate international flights such as EgyptAir’s London – Luxor route which recommences on 17 February. Secondly, we will be aggressively communicating with Egypt’s target audiences through PR and communications campaigns including social media and bloggers. And thirdly, we’re working closely with our valued tour operators partners globally to encourage their clients to return or experience Egypt’s wonders for the first time. Never has a holiday to Egypt been better value!”
“Furthermore, shorter term ‘tactical’ plans are in place, including incentives for airlines and tour operators, and an expansion of our successful live streaming in-destination webcams from five sites to 25. If potential visitors really want to see what’s happening across Egypt, all they need do is speak to their travel professional or log on,” commented Mr Zaazou.
Concluding a packed day of media and tour operator briefings, Mr Zaazou concluded, “I am confident that our pragmatic approach of distancing Cairo from the rest of Egypt coupled with ambitious short and medium term promotional plans will see 2014 being the year that Egypt tourism bounces back.”
Sleeperz Hotels is to open its fourth UK hotel in partnership with Dundee City Council, as part of a £1bn regeneration of Dundee’s waterfront and railway station.Sleeperz Hotel Dundee will be a 120 bedroom property in a stylish curved concourse above a new £22m redeveloped rail station, with panoramic views over the River Tay and onto the new waterfront plaza.
David Myers, chief executive of Sleeperz Hotels, said: “Sleeperz Hotels is an innovative fast growing company with ambitious plans to expand our portfolio of UK lifestyle hotels and is delighted to secure such an exciting development.
Dundee’s waterfront regeneration is one of the biggest of its kind ever to take place in Western Europe and will transform the city as a leisure, tourism and retail destination.
Dundee needs to increase its bed stock and visitors to the city will benefit from our distinctive brand of stylish contemporary rooms and ultra-convenient location at affordable prices.’’
Sleeperz Hotels offer free and fast wi-fi, laptop safes, innovative space saving furniture, wet rooms and tea and coffee making facilities as standard in every room. Sleeperz offers its guests a cooked and continental breakfast and an all-day brasserie menu is available in its lounge and bar.
Sleeperz Hotel Dundee will sit at the centre of the 8km waterfront development next to its marquee attraction, a new £45m V&A at Dundee – a regional branch of the world famous Victoria and Albert Museum of arts and design – expected to open in 2016.
The waterfront development is a 30 year project to regenerate a 240 hectare stretch of the North bank of the River Tay.
The addition of restaurants, bars, hotels and the flagship V&A Dundee is predicted to create over 700 new tourism jobs, attract three million extra visitors and generate a further £1bn of spend in the city’s visitor economy.
The opening of Sleeperz Hotel Dundee will create up to 30 local jobs and generate further opportunities for local hospitality industry and catering suppliers to benefit from working with the company.
Mike Galloway, director of city development at Dundee City Council, said: “We are delighted to have attracted Sleeperz to our waterfront redevelopment in Dundee. This new hotel will provide further high quality accommodation for the many hundreds of thousands of additional visitors to the V&A Museum and it will create a powerful new landmark entrance into our city.”
GROHE demonstrates its support for architects by becoming the first European bathroom manufacturer with worldwide clients to offer BIM data on its website. BIM (Building Information Modelling) is revolutionising the global construction industry, and GROHE is committed to being part of this advance by providing BIM data for 100 of its most popular products. Architects planning a large development can also request an on-demand service for other products in GROHE’s range.GROHE’s embracing of BIM cements its role as an innovation driver in the sanitary industry and will enhance its relationship with the construction sector.
GROHE’s BIM-ready data is available in Autodesk Revit format on GROHE’s website.
See how easy it is to download the new GROHE BIM drawings. Step by step instruction with over 100 models available and a special on-demand service.
A designer needs to recognise that an hotel guest does not necessarily treat an hotel with any respect, nor behave in a restrained manner when away from home. Managers have told me how shocked they have been by behaviour of many at conferences when alcohol and colleagues come together often in orgies of all kinds of excess resulting in couples being pulled off one another in lifts etc.. As the saying goes, “what happens at conference stays at conference, apart from the STI’s “…
This throws a different light on the need for robust design in hotels. Corridors benefit from tall skirtings and pronounced dado rails to protect from trolley damage, but it may be that between dado and skirting a fabric backed vinyl should be used too. It is tough enough to keep broken plaster in place after being hit by a steel cornered business briefcase. Many hotels use a paint finish rather than wall paper. Many paints are now formulated to be quick drying, odour free and solvent free. The downside is that many paints mark more easily and when washed they can actually wash off. Maybe a washable vinyl paper is a better solution, but it can peel easily when scratched. So think about where the finish is. In a bathroom or toilet it must be washable. Make sure you think about door swings and look at door handles. I have seen many holes knocked in walls by room door handles, so think about door stops.
Door locks need to be robust – I once had a drunk burst into my hotel room at 3 in the morning when the door lock operated with his key… Spy holes need to have internal covers – they work both ways otherwise. On disabled or family rooms have a low level spy hole for the wheelchair user or child alone in the room to use.
Are your wall coverings robust or easily repaired? Paint too often fades in colour so retouching can lead to a piebald appearance and the whole wall need painting so is it a false economy , would papering be better? Before specifying check with manufacturers. Do wallpaper rolls have white edges (one manufacturer supplied a colour matching pencil to go over the edges before hanging); do rolls have to alternately be reversed to avoid any issues with pigment shading across the roll?
Making sure that the decorator knows the delivery time for a wallpaper can make the difference between finishing on time or late, but only if you are sure the decorator will order and pay before it is too late. Do you get the decorator to tell you the quantity and you order on the clients behalf? I once drove through snow to Gatwick to collect wallpaper coming in from the US that was held up in Customs. I have paid for 24 hour delivery on a Thursday only to be told when it was delivered late Monday “well we don’t work weekends” so always check the time to be allowed between an order being placed and delivery taking place.
Does the supplier want paying in advance? Talk to the company you are specifying from on what terms they will supply to your contractor/hotel/client. If specifying for an area outside the EU what is the VAT status? If your Client or the contractor using the goods doesn’t pay VAT you could be stuck with a bill – a shipping agent or the manufacturer can advise you.
So to Rule 3: Know the timetable for every detail, look for likely problem areas. Anticipation is better than reaction, take nothing on trust.
Hilton Worldwide has recently announced the official opening of the 265-room Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort, formerly known as Al Hamra Fort & Beach Resort, following an extensive two-year refurbishment. With direct access to an 18-hole championship golf course and with stunning views of the Arabian Gulf and nearby Hajar Mountains, Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort features an inspired mix of 181 villas and suites, 75 deluxe guest rooms and nine luxurious suites. Regarded as a landmark hotel in the prestigious Al Hamra district of Ras Al Khaimah, the comprehensive conversion of the property has thoughtfully preserved the unique identity of the buildings, originally designed to reflect the ancient Arabic forts which still speckle the local landscape.
Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort features a wealth of quality amenities including two temperature controlled pools, a children’s club, spa treatment rooms and a 500-metre private beach. In addition to golf, active guests can enjoy a game of tennis, select from a wide range of water sports or opt for a work out in the hotel’s on-site fitness centre. A comprehensive menu of eight dining and entertainment options will feature a wide range of international delicacies and regional specialities as well as specialist favourites, such as the upcoming Mai Tai bar, with its Polynesian inspired cuisines and Club Malibu, offering an exclusive club vibe with live DJ.
With an adjoining newly revamped 800-capacity convention centre boasting state-of-the-art amenities and a one-stop professional advice shop, Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort is destined to become a leading choice for planners seeking the very best in facilities and service for conferences, meetings and events.
UK shower manufacturer and designer, Roman, will be proudly exhibiting their new collection of Shower Enclosures and Bath Screens at the Kbb Birmingham Exhibition in March. The official launch of Roman’s brand new Lumin8 range will be showcased at this year’s Show along with their recently launched Decem range. Roman will be found on stand D93, exhibiting their newly unveiled Lumin8 and Decem ranges which will showcase the company’s bespoke ability and project capabilities.
Roman’s exciting new Lumin8 range is formally launched from February and as the name suggests, is focused on bringing a mainstream range of 8mm thick glass products to the market which caters for all the major sizes and shapes on the UK market.
All the products in the range stand at an elegant height of 1950mm and feature innovative wrap around adjustable chromed cover caps on top of the profiles. The carefully styled chromed brass handle has been designed to suit all products in the range and bring a contemporary feel to the collection. The extra weight of the 8mm thick glass further improves the excellent sliding door action and feel that you would expect from a Roman product.
The collection presents One Door and Two Door Quadrant options across all the major quadrant and offset quadrant tray sizes. The Bi-Fold Door options in the range cover all main sizes and even offer a 1200mm Bi-Fold Door in one pre-assembled frame. The Lumin8 Pivot Door features solid chrome brass hinges and all of the side panels are frameless top and bottom to give a minimalistic look. There are two power shower approved Bath Screens included in the exciting new range, which include the option of the traditional minimalist inward and outward opening design and the outward opening design which features stylish chromed brass hinges.
The price points that have been set in the market are extremely competitive and offer outstanding value for money in the current market. The range features all the high standards of finish that you would expect from Roman and of course includes their Ultra Care pre-coated glass protection system and their Truelife Lifetime Guarantee. As well as the Roman stand revealing the compelling new Lumin8 collection, the Decem range will present its luxury 10mm thick glass hinged door collection which majestically stands at a sophisticated height of 2000mm, along with the various hardware options the range offers.
Roman’s Managing Director, David Osborne, comments: “We are all set to officially launch our brand new range of Shower Enclosures and Bath Screens at the show. Our Lumin8 collection has been meticulously designed to solve the variety of space restrictions the bathroom holds by offering a diversity of designs and sizes, which is sure to provide something for every bathroom. This particular exhibition is the perfect platform to officially launch our outstanding new range, which truly offers a high level of specification for an excellent price – further proof that British manufacturing in the bathroom industry is vibrant and flourishing.”
When designing an hotel it is important to recognise the criteria that apply to different parts of the building, and also to recognise that in different locations different national rules may apply. Starting point must always be the client. What do they have in mind as a Guest profile. Business, family, tourist? If it is to be operated by a chain the designer may find the chain insisting on a designer they know so get a contract early so you are properly compensated if this happens. It is frustrating watching your design being carried out without your involvement.
If you are working on a building to be operated by a chain what is the brand criteria your client must abide by? (see more in our Guide to Hotel Design). Make sure your client understands the brand guidelines, particularly if there is a requirement to use an approved supplier list. Note though that many suppliers pay handsomely to get on approved supplier lists (one chain charges over £3000 for an initial listing) and will charge extra in order to recoup that fee. Approved suppliers lists may guarantee nothing except meeting a minimum quality. HotelDesigns supplier listing in the Directory is free to consult, provides global coverage and writes about products for designers. These suppliers will provide not only competitive quotations but also are a source of advice and information on exporting, local regulations etc.. Never underestimate your suppliers knowledge base.
International variations mean for example that in some countries it is necessary that the hotel be kitted out with a sprinkler system. In others, like the UK, then that may be unnecessary but it may impose different regulations in terms of fire prevention through flame proofing. This is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to these areas, local authorities differ and each will need to be consulted as to the standards applying in their area. However note there are considerable differences across countries as to their requirements. Different testing methods also apply and some countries, like the USA, are intensely protectionist and design regulations to specifically exclude imports without breaching any free trade agreements.
Many countries within the Commonwealth have standards that may relate to UK standards, but also there may be levels of interpretation that require considerable diplomatic skills to negotiate. A US approach to communicating with a Client may need finessing in the UK if the Client is not to be alienated – and a UK client may be too polite to bluntly say no, but may delay until you go away.
There are also simple traps for the unwary. For example rub testing of fabrics for contract use is well recognised but littered with anomalies that will catch the unwary. A cotton sateen may last 80,000 rubs on a Martindale tests as it is so smooth, but common sense will tell you it is not suitable for use on a bar stool – yet I have seen it used there (it splits)! Similarly a tapestry weave will only do 6,000 rubs yet they have lasted in great houses for hundreds of years because the rough nature of a tapestry weave means threads are raised and will easily break on a Martindale test, but are so highly woven and so thick that they almost won’t ever wear out in normal contract use. Ask your suppliers advice.
So to Rule 2: If in doubt, ask, ask and ask again.
JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts has expanded its luxury portfolio in South Korea with the unveiling of the new 170-room JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul. The new hotel is the second JW Marriott to open in Seoul and the first hotel in the city to receive LEED Gold certification. Marriott International manages the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul under a long-term agreement with the owner, Dong Sung Co., Ltd.Featuring a stylish urban facade and interior that exude elegance, warm luxury and minimalist sophistication, the property is the first international luxury business hotel in Dongdaemun. Ideally located in the heart of Seoul’s fashion district and adjacent to the subway station and key tourist attractions, the new JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul boasts unobstructed views of Korea’s number one national treasure – the historical Dongdaemun or “East Gate.”
The new hotel has 170 guestrooms, including 19 Executive Sky View Rooms and 15 Suites. A dedicated Executive Lounge with an open balcony serves the Executive Floor rooms. Among the hotel’s extensive health and fitness facilities are an indoor 25-meter lap pool, the exclusive Club 501 Fitness Centre and the indulgent The JW Spa.
The hotel’s innovative food and beverage program is curated by a stellar team of award-winning professionals from France, Germany, the US and Korea. Among the highlights is BLT Steak, of the internationally renowned New York steakhouse; Tavolo 24, a casual all-day dining restaurant featuring live cooking stations; The Lounge which specializes in artisan chocolates, martinis and afternoon tea and Seoul Baking Company, which servesfresh cakes and pastries from its open kitchen. For visitors and locals alike, the roof-top Griffin Bar overlooking the East Gate, is set to become one of the most sought after social scenes in the city where guests can sit outside and enjoy stunning views.
With a total of 10,570 square feet of meeting space and a Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 750 guests, the hotel is the perfect choice for the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market. Among its state-of-the-art meetings facilities is Seoul’s first LFD (Large Format Display) 98-screen media wall.
A vital resource for anyone designing with Geberit products, the leading manufacturer has updated its online catalogue at www.geberit.co.uk/catalogue to include spare parts information. Now, alongside product line drawings, images and specification information, the online catalogue features a spare parts breakdown of all Geberit products – past and present. Simple to navigate, the searchable database lists all the UK spare parts available across the Geberit portfolio of Sanitary, AquaClean and Piping products.Aiding users in identifying which spare part is needed, together with its corresponding code, the online catalogue makes the ordering process simpler and faster. With the number of call transfers between departments internally also reduced, retailers can also look forward to an improved customer service too.
The catalogue is easy to find at www.geberit.co.uk/catalogue, and can also be accessed via links from the main Geberit website. By clicking on ‘Spare parts’, users will be instantly directed to the search page, from where they can enter either the article number of the finished products or the spare part itself. Alternatively, there is also an easy to navigate menu. Once found, the user will be given a full breakdown of the product they require, with exploded diagrams and an easy number reference with the Geberit named part and code which they can order in the normal way. The catalogue also gives the option to enlarge sections by hovering the mouse, so that the correct part needed can be quickly and clearly identified.
A handy feature of the catalogue is the materials list, where customers can add their products and create either a PDF or excel file, which includes the material numbers required as quantities. This provides an easy reference guide of what retailers need and makes ordering a very simple process. Spare parts can then be ordered direct through Geberit distributors.
Commenting on the launch of the online spare parts catalogue, Sarah Johnston, marketing and communications manager, said: “Our online catalogue is designed to be a handy reference tool for customers, and the addition of the spare parts catalogue enhances this. We want customers to be able to access the Geberit information they need quickly and simply, and by providing it all in one area, this will help them to identify the information need at the click of a mouse.”
The recent refurbishment at the Hotel Die Halde Oberried had to be carried out with extreme caution as this real estate has a history of more than 700 years. Behind the facade of the historic building the guests find all amenities of a modern hotel, including a brand new Spa area. The guestrooms offer a modest design with luminaires from the range of Baulmann Leuchten Sundern.
The hotel design focuses on nature, drawing inspiration from the nearby Black Forest through the use of domestic woods and fresh colours to create a relaxing and warming atmosphere for its guests. For more information on the hotel, click here.
All pictures are copyright by “Hotel Die Halde Oberried”.
Hotels are special places with special demands on designers, contractors and manufacturers serving the refurbishment and new build markets. Subject to much abuse by guests, hotels have to withstand a level of use rarely seen in domestic environments, and with potentially ruinous consequences for designers, suppliers and the hotel itself if mistakes are made.
Hotels rely on letting their rooms. Seems obvious to state this but it must be ever present in designers minds, and in the thinking of contractors and contract suppliers too. For the designer it brings an understanding of the need to programme the work so that a completion date is met. This would involve not only the actual build time but knowing the delivery periods for all the FF&E items, and what order they need to be installed in the rooms, who installs them etc.. In setting a date for handover to the hotel the designer has to be conscious that as soon as an hotel manager is given a date for handover they will be letting rooms. Rooms are often let months in advance so mangers will be looking for handover dates from the beginning of projects on refurbishment. This demands that the designer coordinates work from tender stage on, in close harmony with their contractor, to ensure that named dates are achieved, as if not the penalty may be that the hotel has to be compensated for its loss of profit.
Nothing angers hotel management more than having guest booked in and the rooms not available. Not only does it create relationship problems with guests, but the hotel may have to find rooms for them with a competitor hotel with the attendant risk that the guest transfers their loyalty to the other hotel. As designer relationships with hotels have the potential for being long term ( my own practice had continuing working relationships with some hoteliers for over 30 years) then it is wise for the designer to anticipate and remove problems before the hotel becomes aware they exist. Make no mistake, investors may make decisions and choose a design practice, but if a designer offends the GM the working relationship with the hotel WILL break down.
In creating a work programme the designer needs honest responses and a good straight forward relationship with the producers of the FF&E items and the contractor. No-one can live with exaggerated promises on delivery dates or site performance if they cannot be realised. Whilst the size of orders and potential for repeat orders may be attractive for a manufacturer, no designers will go back to a company that lets them down in this market – their professional reputations are too valuable, and the penalties for non-delivery too high.
So Rule 1: Never promise what you can’t deliver, always deliver on what you promise.
The Malaysian hotel group is continuing to expand its portfolio of hotels in London with the opening of Tune Hotel Canary Wharf in November 2014.
The hotel will boast 130 bedrooms, including twin, double and accessible rooms and will be perfectly positioned within a five minute walk of Canary Wharf tube station and a two minute walk from West India Quay DLR, ideal for city workers, business travellers and holidaymakers alike. The latest property from the hotel chain will stay true to the brand by offering exceptionally low prices to customers, without compromising on standards. It will also showcase a new style of innovative room space designed especially for the needs of business travellers.
Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels, commented: “Introducing the fifth hotel to the capital is a significant business move for us. The demand for a low cost hotel in Canary wharf that offers good quality basics and importantly a great night’s sleep is becoming ever more important as tourists and business travellers are swayed by price but unwilling to trade down on standards.”
Tune Hotels is a growing chain of properties that have embraced the limited service model used by low cost airlines. All Tune Hotels feature space‐efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high‐quality basics: five-star Hypnos beds and powerful hot showers.
The strategically located hotels provide housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, 24 hour reception, CCTV systems, and no access into the main lobby without a keycard past midnight.
BAGNODESIGN London is proud to announce the grand opening of its flagship Architect and Design (A&D) showroom in the heart of Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Inside the impressive 4,000 sq ft showroom visitors are treated to a taste of British style and innovation, where the BAGNODESIGN London range of European manufactured and designed products are on display to architects, interior designers, contractors and discerning retail clients alike. The A&D concept, championed by BAGNODESIGN London, is a toolkit for architects and designers to assist in product specification for new bathroom spaces. The showroom was designed so that BAGNODESIGN London’s products can be experienced first-hand, not just by industry professionals, but retail customers too.
Simon Davis, Sales Director BAGNODESIGN Asia Pacific, commented: “We are very excited to unveil our new A&D showroom to the people of Hong Kong. Our aim is for Design and Construction professionals to fully utilise the social space – touch, feel and select materials in a relaxed environment where all the specialised facilities you would expect to find are available. These include workspaces, private meeting areas with video-conferencing facilities, refreshments and free wifi access.”
The Grand Opening took place on January 23 at the new showroom on Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, where guests were treated to an evening of decadent elegance. As over 130 guests arrived and paused to have their photos taken on the red carpet, an array of British, Italian and Asian themed food and beverages awaited them inside. Guests were also entered into a prize draw, with the top prize being a trip for two to Dubai with a four night stay in the JW Marriott Marquis, the world’s tallest hotel, – bathrooms exclusively supplied by BAGNODEDSIGN London.
Speaking after the event, Simon Davis commented: “Initial feedback from the design community and retail clients has been hugely positive and our aim is for this flagship showroom to act as the platform for other BAGNODESIGN London outlets across the region… watch this space.”
Tanja Haug has designed a ski chalet for property developers Realitalia in Limone Piemonte, one of Italy’s oldest ski areas about 100km south of Turin near the border of France.The chalet’s idyllic Alpine setting inspired the interior design, using natural materials throughout. The result is any skier’s idea of bliss: stone and wood walls, heavily beamed ceilings, and furniture and lighting made from antique salvaged wood.
The chalet’s environmental credentials are noteworthy. The stone used to build the chalet, for example, was salvaged from a nearby baita – or mountain hut – that was demolished.
Special lighting was commissioned and an impressive chandelier was made from the roots of a tree. This now hangs over the dining table in the chalet. Corten steel was used for the stairs and balustrades, which now have the most beautiful patina.
The chalet’s furniture was made to measure, much of it constructed from antique wood. A Bodema sofa in the living room was covered in specially treated leather to give it an antique look but also a soft and warm touch. Chairs were covered in Alcantara.
When Chilli Banana relocated their Thai restaurant to the centre of Wilmslow, Steve and Mai appointed Dawnvale to refurbish the entire ground and first floor premises.A key factor to this project was that low energy had to be the main focus of all the equipment and services. So our bar and kitchen designers set about utilising the latest low energy and energy reduction equipment.
The newly launched KERS heat recovery system was installed. This clever system recovers wasted heat created by the cook line and converts it back to potable hot water at over 50 degrees, reducing their carbon emissions as well as expensive bills.
A bespoke low energy one piece induction wok station was commissioned; featuring 5 energy saving induction woks, with water faucets and refrigerated draws all incorporated in a seamless stainless steel top achieves and impressive 80% energy saving on conventional woks.
Add too all of this, the LED lighting and controls Dawnvale provided Steve, Mai and the team at Chilli Banana a magnificent low energy kitchen.
Fort Capital, the Miami-based private real estate investment company, announced yesterday it has entered into an agreement with Four Seasons, the world’s leading luxury hospitality company, to brand and manage The Surf Club, a 9-acre property on the Atlantic Ocean in Surfside, Florida which Fort Capital acquired in 2012. Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club will have approximately 80 rooms, and incorporate a historic Russell Pancoast-designed building. The Surf Club Four Seasons Private Residences will comprise 150 homes and penthouses in two 12-story towers. Both will offer the intuitive, customized service that is the hallmark of Four Seasons. Richard Meier & Partners, in association with KKAID, is the design architect for the project.
The legendary Surf Club, was founded in 1930 by Harvey Firestone as a private membership club. It will soon join a growing portfolio of historic and architecturally important Four Seasons hotels, including the landmark Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris; the lavishly restored Palazzo and Giardino della Gherardesca at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze; and the majestic Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg, housed in a meticulously restored 19th century palace.
The Surf Club boasts 965 feet of Atlantic oceanfront on a 9-acre site which will incorporate the hotel; two residential towers; a private membership club; two restaurants; four swimming pools; a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center; more than 40 beach cabanas; and an expansive park and oceanside gardens. The Richard Meier Signature Homes and Penthouses, ranging in size from 1400 to almost 8000 square feet, will offer residents extraordinary views stretching from the Atlantic to downtown Miami, with interiors and finishes personally selected by Mr. Meier. The design for the buildings utilize his decisive and iconic visual vocabulary — glass walls, capacious volumes of space, a sensitivity to the movement of natural light throughout the day, and sumptuous yet elemental materials. This is Mr. Meier’s first project in the Miami area.
“When we acquired The Surf Club in 2012, our goal was to augment the property’s natural beauty and storied past with the intelligent, purposeful design of Richard Meier to create an elegant, amenity-rich residential and hospitality experience,” noted Nadim Ashi, CEO of Fort Capital. “By partnering with Four Seasons, we are going to ensure that Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club and The Surf Club Four Seasons Private Residences will consistently deliver the highest caliber of service. Their expertise, track-record and fully-integrated bespoke service will provide owners and guests with an unmatched lifestyle of luxury and ease. Richard Meier & Partners in association with KKAID, have created buildings which will become iconic additions to the Surfside landscape.”
“We move forward with opportunities only if we are confident we have the right location and the right partner – a partner who shares our vision for success,” said Scott Woroch, Executive Vice President Worldwide Development, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are excited to partner with Fort Capital and Richard Meier – visionaries who have embraced the Surf Club’s rich history and provenance while boldly reimagining its future.”
“This is a tremendous opportunity to grow our portfolio in Florida, a key growth market for Four Seasons,” continued Woroch. “Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club will be a dynamic complement to our existing properties in Florida – Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach and Four Seasons Hotel Miami, as well as the highly anticipated Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort opening this summer.” Richard Meier commented, “The Surf Club offers a unique opportunity to create an important addition to the built environment, one which affects a balance between the natural beauty of the expansive oceanfront site, and the desire for a new definition of luxury. Incorporating the historic structure; remaining sensitive to the gracious, low-rise context of Surfside, Florida; and further exploring the relationship between structure and sea has been a wonderful project for the firm. With the addition of Four Seasons, I feel confident that the homes and penthouses we have created will be enjoyed to their fullest”.
Coastal Construction is serving as general contractor on the project. Construction commenced in late 2013 and is on schedule to be completed in early 2016.
Chelsom are pleased to confirm that they will once again be exhibiting at Cruise Shipping Miami 2014, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary and will be taking place at the Miami Beach Convention Centre in Florida on 10th-13th March 2014. Cruise Shipping Miami is deemed by many as the epicentre of the global marine industry, bringing together every facet of the business including cruise lines, suppliers, designers and partners. This will be Chelsom’s 4th consecutive year exhibiting at the event and they will be showcasing some of their latest designs from the extensive Edition 23 catalogue. They are also delighted to have been chosen to supply a selection of LED lighting from their upcoming collection for the showcase cabin designed by Tillberg Design Sweden which is set to be the main focal point of the exhibition.
Will Chelsom, Company Director said “Cruise Shipping Miami is the number one global event for the marine industry and we are really pleased to be exhibiting again. Being able to see what the international market is up to is really inspirational and it’s a great environment for companies to showcase their latest product designs and innovations. The event has become a key date in the diaries of many leading professionals from the wider industry so it’s incredibly exciting to be previewing some of our exclusive new designs from what is undoubtedly our most different and design-led collection yet.”
Chelsom has become one of the leading designers, manufacturers and suppliers of decorative lighting to the international marine sector working on a number of significant projects in 2013, most notable of which include the stunning custom centrepiece fittings created for the public areas of Hapag- Lloyd Cruises 5-star ‘MS Europa2’, custom designed LED fittings onboard Crystal Cruises ‘Serenity’ along with the extensive refurbishment programme of two of Pullmantur’s most prestigious liners ‘Monarch’ and ‘Zenith’.
Harlequin and Bedeck have once again produced a stunning collection of highly covetable bedlinen for spring/summer 2014. The luxurious range of Harlequin bedlinen will be complemented by two more beautiful designs, adapted from best-sellers in the Poetica and Jardin Bohème collections. Both designs, Caspia and Floria, are available in four sizes of duvet cover (single, double, king and super king) with coordinating pillowcases and accessories.Caspia This uplifting design features a joyful riot of flora presented in a folkloric style. The duvet cover features bold roses and camellias interspersed with summer berries and garden leaves on a parchment ground. The vibrant colours include scarlet, orange, olive, aqua and teal and the reverse, a cool coordinating blue, evokes the colour of summer skies. The white oxford pillowcase has a flurry of leaves springing from the left hand side and a plain linen reverse. Both the duvet cover and pillowcase have been printed onto 180-thread count, 100% cotton percale, and are complemented by a beautiful knitted cushion and throw.
Floria The front of the duvet cover features a beautifully sketched magnolia, with a watery, hand tinted appearance, in soft dusty cornflower blue, ivory and soft caramel. It has a subtle all over vertical stripe on the reverse and is piped in ivory. Coordinating floral oxford and housewife striped pillowcases complete the look. Floria is printed onto a tactile 100% cotton percale and is complemented by a sumptuous mohair throw featuring a large-scale stripe and an appliquéd cushion piped in ivory.
Kimpton’s iconic Washington D.C. hotel, The George, has announced the completion of a multi-million pound renovation and redesign. The renovation of The George covers all 139 guest rooms and suites, hallway corridors and lifts, which will now flow seamlessly with the artful, contemporary design of the hotel’s recently refreshed living room, gallery, and meeting spaces.“We’re thrilled with the results of the renovation and so are our guests. The new rooms are modern, upscale, and will keep us on the map as the premier hotel for business and leisure on Capitol Hill,” said Ben Timashenka, Director of Operations for Kimpton’s Washington, D.C. hotels.
CBT, an interior, architecture and urban-design firm specialising in luxury hospitality design, was hired to re-imagine The George’s design and capture the presidential spirit of the hotel. Starting with the guest rooms, the redesign features a sophisticated, crisp colour palette with rich accents of warm blues, browns, and beige, as well as contemporary references to American history, reflected in the parchment and ink graphic wallpaper depicting George Washington’s handwritten inaugural address.
The hotel’s premier guest room, The Presidential Suite, received stylish updates including new furniture and an accent rug illustrating Washington’s inaugural address in the separate sitting area, custom impressionist-style portraits of George and Martha Washington, and a luxurious new free-standing soaking tub and marble shower.
From the 2014 American Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that it expects another year of robust growth in North America with approximately 30 new hotels slated to open by year’s end, driven by the rapid proliferation of its Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft brands and a surge in conversions across several of its brands, including Le Méridien, which is experiencing strong development momentum. In 2013, Starwood opened 33 new hotels and signed 52 new hotel deals in North America, up 27% over signings the previous year and the most signed since before the global economic crisis. “Starwood remains extremely bullish about its growth prospects in North America, which is still our largest market, comprising over 50% of our existing global portfolio,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “We now have a total of 577 hotels in North America and expect record low supply and growing demand to continue driving growth.”
“Starwood will open about one-third of its new hotels in North America in 2014, reflecting the continued strength of our brands in this important market,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North America Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Owners and developers are showing increased interest in conversions and new builds under one of Starwood’s brands in order to tap into Starwood’s powerful network, global booking platforms and loyal customer base.”
Starwood’s Specialty Select Brands are Driving Starwood’s Growth in North America Starwood’s “Specialty Select” brands – Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element – are leading Starwood’s growth in North America and account for approximately 75% of new hotel openings in the region in 2014. As a group, these brands have grown 80% globally since 2008 and are on track to surpass 200 hotels in North America this year.
Four Points by Sheraton signed nearly twice as many deals over the past five years in North America than any other Starwood brand. Fueled by its successful positioning emphasizing uncomplicated comfort and timeless style, Four Points will open 12 new hotels in North America in 2014, nearly all conversions. Key 2014 openings include the first Four Points in Charleston, West Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; and Surrey, British Columbia; as well as its second in Nashville, Tennessee and the fourth in Manhattan. Boasting the second largest global pipeline among all of Starwood brands, Four Points by Sheraton will open its 200th hotel worldwide this year as it nears its 125th milestone in North America.
Starwood’s stylish Aloft brand will surpass 60 hotels in North America this year. Aloft signed 16 new hotel deals in North America in 2013 – the most of any Starwood brand in the region and the highest number since 2008. While the majority of Aloft hotels coming online are new builds, the brand is also attracting a growing number of adaptive re-use projects and conversions. This year, Aloft will enter numerous new markets with eight new hotel openings in North America including two more adaptive re-use projects, Aloft Tampa Downtown and Aloft Detroit, and two conversions, Aloft Atlanta Downtown and Aloft Calgary University. Other key openings will include Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown – Bricktown, Aloft Buffalo Airport, Aloft Denver Downtown, and Aloft Manhattan Downtown – Financial District.
Element, Starwood’s trailblazing, eco-wise brand, is picking up momentum with three openings planned for North America this year in Harrison, New Jersey; Hanover, New Hampshire; and Fargo, North Dakota, plus its first in Europe in Frankfurt, Germany. Element will open its 15th hotel in North America in 2015 including its first in Orlando, second in the Miami metropolitan area, and second in Canada – Element Vancouver Metrotown. In 2016, the brand will add two more hotels in Canada.
Upper Upscale and Luxury Brands Enjoy Strong Position and Sustained Growth Starwood’s robust portfolio of upper-upscale hotels under its Le Méridien, Westin and Sheraton flags are poised for another year of robust growth. In 2013, Le Méridien signed more hotels worldwide in one year since Starwood acquired the brand in 2005, driven by accelerating demand in North America. In 2014, the brand expects to open more hotels worldwide in one year since the brand was acquired, including five openings in the United States with two adaptive re-use projects, Le Méridien Tampa and Le Méridien Chicago-Oakbrook Center. Le Méridien will also launch a brand-new lifestyle development in Columbus, Ohio and open two conversions this year: Le Méridien Indianapolis, which has transformed a historic downtown hotel, and Le Méridien Charlotte, part of a dual-hotel development along with the already opened Sheraton Charlotte Hotel.
Starwood’s Westin brand, known for the resounding success of its wellness positioning, will reach its 200th milestone worldwide in 2014. Westin will open two new hotels this year in the United States: The Westin Wilmington on the city’s revitalized waterfront, and The Westin Cleveland Downtown. In 2015, the brand will reach the 125th hotel milestone in North America with openings planned for Denver, CO; Bethesda, MD; Austin, TX; San Jose, CA; Jackson, MS; and Jekyll Island, GA.
Sheraton, Starwood’s largest brand, will return to the Dominican Republic this year with the opening of Sheraton Santo Domingo. The global hotel icon opened five conversion properties and signed seven deals in North America in 2013. Of those deals, four were conversion properties that opened within the year. Starwood continues to lead the luxury segment globally and boasts one of the strongest North American luxury portfolios in the industry under its St. Regis, W Hotels and Luxury Collection brands. This year, Starwood will open The St. Anthony, A Luxury Collection Hotel, San Antonio, an external conversion and the company’s fourth luxury property and first Luxury Collection property in Texas. In 2013, St. Regis Hotels unveiled its newly refurbished brand flagship, The St. Regis New York, while W Hotels completed renovations at W New York – Union Square and W Dallas.
The Caltongate development for the Edinburgh’s Historic Old Town has been approved by councillors following an 18-month consultation period. Global property advisers, Colliers International, advised Artisan Real Estate Investors, the international development consortium behind the development. Work could start as soon as mid-2014.Centred around a new £6.5 million civic square, Artisan’s new development will create around 16,500 sq. metres of high quality grade A office space and 28 new retail businesses, as well as the hotel and leisure space. There are also plans for a new community facility, together with 145 residential units and 40 affordable homes. The scheme links the capital’s New Street/East Market Street area and Waverley Station with the historic Royal Mile.
A deal was agreed in December to bring two Whitbread hotels to the five-acre site, including a 128-room Premier Inn and a 130-room Hub by Premier Inn, Whitbread’s innovative new ‘compact’ hotel format which will be the first of its kind outside of London.
The economic benefit of this new development is estimated to bring in £43m to the local economy each year, as well as creating almost 2,000 jobs.
Marc Finney, Head of Hotels International at Colliers International, who advised Artisan on the project and secured the hotel deal with Whitbread PLC, said, “The levels of interest in this scheme from across the spectrum of hotel and apart-hotel operators, both nationally and internationally, highlighted the tremendous value this development will bring to Edinburgh and the high-profile transformation for the Caltongate area.”
Lukas Nakos, Artisan’s managing director said: “This has been an exceptional planning approval for an exceptional development. Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of one of the most challenging city centre developments anywhere in the UK, and we now have the opportunity to deliver on our promises made when we first started this process, more than two years ago.
“Our proposals are the result of an 18-month consultation process bringing together local people, businesses, civic partners and heritage bodies. This has led to many facets of the area’s unique Old Town setting being retained to preserve the character of the development, including the retention of the Canongate Venture building and the façade of the Old Sailor’s Ark.”
He added: “Artisan will now bring international capital investment of £150 million to the table, coupled with the vision and commitment needed to complete what has already been started. We now have the opportunity to create, in the very heart of Edinburgh, one of Europe’s most exciting and vibrant mixed-use communities which will set an international benchmark for sensitive and innovative development.”
A specialist British brand for over 230 years, and Royal Warrant holders since 1958, Brintons Carpets, joins a ‘Best of British’ line up alongside Skopos, Morgan, Muraspec, Trimline and SMC Design for the annual Cruise Shipping Miami event on 10-13th March 2014.A stunning three-dimensional abstract design has been created for the stand by Brintons specialist marine Designer Paul Andino, this striking carpet is woven with pioneering High Definition Weave Technology that allows Brintons to weave up to 33 colours with ultra-precise clarity.
Brintons has an excellent track record with the worlds largest ship owners, shipyards and marine designers. Brintons specialist marine division has supplied carpet to more than 500 vessels, for use in public areas, cabins and corridors.
Brintons offers stock and custom solutions with full marine certification for cruise ships, ferries, yachts and other offshore installations. Our products are proven in the most demanding situations around the world. All our marine products are supplied with Wheelmark certification, which shows that the carpet conforms with the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) and SOLAS (Safety Of Life At Sea) requirements.
To learn more about Brintons and their range of marine certified carpets, please visit stand 2301.
The Gleneagles® Hotel is pleased to announce the official re-launch of The Club, the culmination of 12 months’ work and a £5million investment. The refurbishment sees the hotel’s leisure complex upgraded and enhanced to create an even more luxurious space to escape, relax and unwind. The refurbishment was led by the Gleneagles team and renowned London interior designers Sedley Place, and coincides with the hotel’s 90th anniversary in 2014. The new-look Club features a refreshed reception with a viewing gallery overlooking the pool hall, and waiting area with comfortable seating for visitors. The ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ stairs connecting the various levels allow swimmers and gym users to remain separated. The changing facilities have been enlarged with more lockers, vanity tables and added space for adult and toddler changing cubicles.
With the clever use of mood lighting and quiet deck-level loungers, the former lap pool has now been transformed into an adult zone with a more calming atmosphere. This area comes with the latest heat experiences including a jacuzzi-style tub, sauna and steam room, and heated loungers arranged around a water font. The existing leisure pool has been completely remodelled, with a waterfall feature, fun bubble jet crossing and bubble pool for all the family to enjoy. The introduction of a glazed screen wall constructed from insulated, thermally efficient glass, provides better acoustics and improved insulation in the pool hall.
Undergoing a complete transformation, the old outdoor pool is now an ‘Alpine Onsen’. This combines the look and feel of a hot mountain pool with the tranquillity of a highland landscape. A prominent theme, the ‘rushes’ and reeds pattern motif has been incorporated throughout The Club design.
Jones Lang LaSalle’s Global Hotel Investor Outlook 2013 shows that the UK remains the leading market for hotel investment, attracting 37 per cent share of EMEA hotel investment volume in 2013. Trading and sentiment has improved and market confidence has been boosted by a number of key global investors underwriting the U.K. market through portfolio acquisitions and refinancings, notably the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Starwood Capital, KSL Capital Partners and Mount Kellett. The report forecasts that a continued sell-down of over leveraged assets in control of the lenders and disposals by private equity funds reaching the end of their life-cycle, will bolster hotel investment volumes by 20 per cent in 2014. This will also be aided by the increasing appetite of UK domestic banks such as RBS, Lloyds and Barclays, as well as overseas banks such as the Bank of China and a number of Middle Eastern banks, to lend to the hotel sector.
Revenue per available room (RevPar) in London is expected to rise by c.4 per cent in 2014, a more positive result than 2013 when London trading was impacted by additional supply and by comparison to the Olympic year. An additional 45 properties, with approximately 6,000 rooms, are set to enter the London market in 2014. 60 per cent of these are within the budget sector and will continue to challenge trading performance. Regional U.K. hotels are also expected to see some top line growth although the challenge here remains at the profit level, with costs often increasing faster than revenue. However, the speed of GDP growth should underpin business confidence and drive rate growth through a shift in room segmentation.
Jonathan Hubbard, CEO Northern Europe for Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, said: “The familiarity and maturity of the UK will provide good opportunities for investors in 2014 and will drive more value. As a result of this, we will see competition heating up and investors that miss out on the prime core market opportunities will start to focus on the secondary markets in those countries where they will tap broader opportunities and better returns. It’s a very positive picture for the EMEA region and particularly for London and the UK.”
The MainStay Suites Charlotte North, located off Arrowood Road near the airport at 7926 Forest Pine Drive, is undergoing a large renovation. The 77-room extended stay hotel, owned and managed by The Generation Companies, a real estate developer, owner, asset manager and operator of extended stay hotels, is updating its décor and adding new furniture. The extensive renovation includes installing new flat screen TVs, carpet and bedding; freshening bathrooms with new paint; refreshing kitchen and bathroom cabinets; upgrading the continental breakfast area with new, colourful dishware and containers; and improving the quality of its high-speed Internet. The hotel will finish the renovation with new artwork and sleeper sofas. Most of the renovation will be complete by March. “We want to provide our customers, mostly extended stay business and transient corporate guests, with an enhanced experience,” said Rick Stroud, Regional Operations Manager of The Generation Companies. “Our large, spacious guest rooms are a big selling point. We wanted to update them and our hallways with a fresh, contemporary look and more modern selections.”
The MainStay Suites extended stay guest rooms feature a fully-equipped kitchen, a large work area with bright task lighting and free high-speed Internet access. The pet-friendly hotel provides a business centre, fitness centre, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, on-site guest laundry and outdoor heated swimming pool. The hotel is conveniently located near Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Convention Centre, Carowinds amusement park and Carolina Place Mall.
Modern Luxury, White Star History One of the most iconic historical buildings in Liverpool, which has remained unused for the past 10 years, is set to get a new lease of life as a luxury hotel which has a stylish nod to its famous history. The former headquarters of the White Star Line – one of the world’s biggest shipping lines most well-known as owners of the ill-fated Titanic liner – on James Street in Liverpool will become a 11 storey luxury hotel accommodating up to 310 guests to be called 30 James Street – Home of the Titanic, in 2014 after being bought by Signature Living.
Signature Living, Liverpool’s premium provider of leisure and corporate accommodation with a series of luxury themed serviced accommodations in the centre of Liverpool will invest £7m to renovate the building which was constructed between 1896 and 1898 by the architect Norman Shaw.
Notably the building is an exact copy (It is based upon through colour and stone work, yet the footprint is quite different) of Scotland Yard – which was considered to be one of the most exciting pieces of architecture of its time.
With the help of historian Paul Louden-Brown and after months of research Lawrence and Katie Kenwright, the duo behind Signature Living, have combined the history of the building with elements of construction and design to ensure that every area of 30 James Street takes guests on a journey through the history of the building, making it more than just a hotel.
Dernier & Hamlyn recently worked with Martin Brudnizki Design Studio to produce banquette lamps for the new Jackson +Rye restaurant, café and bar in Wardour Street, West London. Whilst at first glance they may look like fairly standard light fittings, the craftsmanship skills involved in their manufacture at Dernier & Hamlyn’s London factory are believed to be unique in the UK. Each of the shades was made from sheets of brass which were folded by hand. This was an extremely time consuming and labour intensive task but the only way in which the beautiful end result could be achieved with such brilliance.LED lamps have been used for the benefits they bring in long-life and energy saving, with filters fitted so that the light generated is warmer than that usually emanated from LED. The lamps were finished in antique brass.
Nicholas Jeanes, Design Director at Martin Brudnizki Design Studio says: “When we want lighting that goes above and beyond our normal requirements for quality and innovation, Dernier & Hamlyn is always the natural choice and we call on them again and again for many of our most prestigious projects.”
Axor, the designer brand of the mixer and shower manufacturer Hansgrohe SE, has won one of the most coveted media awards – the Wallpaper* Design Award 2014 – for the ‘Best Shower’. A high calibre panel of judges distinguished the Axor WaterDream by Front. It is the second Wallpaper* Design Award for Axor: in 2011 the brand received the award for its Axor Bouroullec collection.Axor WaterDream by Front: a visual appreciation of water pathways
With a simplicity that is characteristic of Scandinavian design, Front focuses on the technical aspects of showers, presenting their Axor WaterDream in homage to the plumbing trade and to the aesthetics inherent in technology. “Front shows us how something that is normally hidden from view can become a visually appealing and valued spatial construct,” says Philippe Grohe. Charlotte von der Lancken from Front adds: “We want to use our personal perception of the shower to draw attention to the technology behind the wall, which is often concealed. It is important for us to foster an awareness for the most archetypal aspect of the bathroom – the installation itself. For this reason, we played around with the most elementary components used to bring water to us – couplings, pipes, valves, funnels.”
Axor WaterDream: visions for the bathroom as a living space
For over 20 years now Axor has been working with architects, interior designers and product designers of international standing to create conceptual visions for the bathroom. “When we start planning for a new collection, we are less concerned with the marketable product itself. Instead, we focus on providing scope for creating something new, on breaking down long-established patterns of thinking, and on engaging in an open, interdisciplinary dialogue with our design partners. This has made it possible for us to continuously break new ground and set new industry standards,” says Philippe Grohe.
Penwith Upholstery, based in Redruth, is expanding after winning a clutch of contracts to upholster interior furniture at several up market venues in the capital.Their success story started last summer after the company secured a contract to supply bespoke seating for the Tonteria nightclub in Sloane Square, the latest venture for nightclub owner Guy Pelly and close friend of Prince William.
From that job, word of Penwith Upholstery’s specialist skills in ‘banquette’ (bench style) seating spread among the members of London’s exclusive after hours set.
Orders for jobs at more high-end venues started coming in and today business from London clientele accounts for more than 80% of the company’s turnover.
Some of their latest commissions include The Chelsea Brasserie in Sloane Square, Margaux Wine Bar in Chelsea, Amika boutique nightclub in Mayfair and Veeraswamy, London’s oldest Indian restaurant, in Regent Street.
Chartered Surveyors Miller Commercial have just negotiated a new lease for Penwith Upholstery to relocate to a larger unit, more than twice the size of their previous base, at Bells Business Park, Cardrew.
Sarah Bawden, who owns Penwith Upholstery, has been overseeing the move. She says finding bigger premises was vital in order to service the increase in the volume of work.
She says “Today’s success is a very different story from the difficult times we were facing in 2011. The decision we took then, to focus our efforts on niche up-market venues has paid off.
Clients in and around London are choosing us over the larger longer established upholstery firms.
I think they appreciated the ‘Cornish connection’ and the more bespoke, niche nature of our company.
Closer to home we undertake upholstery projects in the Healthcare and Marine sectors. Doctors and dental surgeries, work for the MOD and merchant ships.
But here too we’re getting more commissions at the high-end of the market, working in association with Pendennis Shipyard on the interior of luxury super yachts.
Things are really looking good for us right now. We’ve taken on more staff and are considering branching out into soft furnishings which would complement our existing work.
Whatever new business our future brings we plan to stay based firmly in Cornwall.”
You may think you see colour, but did you know you also feel it? Light comes in many different wavelengths and frequencies that hit the retina, which then translates these invisible “vibrations” as a different colour to your brain. Early Greek, Egyptian and Chinese civilizations, recognizing that little grows without light, theorized that the many colours that make up visible light had individual powers that influence emotions and systems of the body.
Today, many recognize chromotherapy – changing coloured light – as a helpful holistic healing method, and now you can enjoy the experience at home with the Rio Revive shower system from Crosswater which cycles through three stimulating colours.
The system has a waterproof remote control that can be wall mounted, and the 600mm showerhead is ultra-thin for seamless recessing into the ceiling of your shower for the ultimate showering experience. Choose from a comprehensive range of Italian designed and made, quality Crosswater shower valves to operate the Rio Revive for the complete, modern bathroom look. Offering a double waterfall and rainfall feature, the flat panel head is for high water pressure only. Like all products with lights requiring mains power, Rio Revive must be installed by an electrical engineer in compliance with IEE wiring regulations. The system comes with a ten year guarantee and is made to order.
Visitors to a North East pub will soon be able to spend the night in style thanks to a £150,000 refurbishment. Work is now underway to transform the living quarters at the Lambton Worm, Chester-le-Street, into stylish bed and breakfast accommodation for pub patrons and outside guests.
The rooms, which are due for completion by April 2014, will include 12 standard en-suites, as well as two larger suites with whirlpool baths, all individually decorated and fitted with solid mahogany rococo furniture.
The Lambton Worm on North Road was saved from closure in 2012, when it was bought by leading leisure firm Tavistock Leisure and re-launched following a £500,000 investment.
It now operates as a brewpub for the Sonnet 43 microbrewery in Coxhoe, serving a wide range of craft beers, as well as a selection of classical British food, made with a modern twist.
The owners hope that this latest development will appeal not only to pubgoers but to tourists visiting the surrounding area.
Mark Hird, Managing Director of Tavistock Leisure and Sonnet 43, said: “The Lambton Worm is in a great position, offering easy access to the County Durham countryside, as well as all the attractions of Durham city and Durham County Cricket Club.
“By diversifying from a brewery tap to a boutique bed and breakfast we hope to maximise this opportunity and appeal to a local, national and international clientele.”
The Lambton Worm is one of three brewery taps now run by Sonnet 43 brew house, with sister sites also open in Coxhoe and Hebburn. This will be the first with bedrooms.
Dawnvale introduce their latest range of furniture; Italian His and Hers “Cheeky Chairs”. Promotional Price = £159 each (RRP £226)Terms of business: • Available in; Matt Black, Red & White. • Minimum order of ten chairs, and must be ordered in even numbers. • Approximately 3 weeks delivery, 50% deposit required. • All prices exclude VAT & delivery. • Promotion valid on orders placed between 1st February to 30th April 2014 only.
Leading British shower designer and manufacturer, Roman, has launched a brand new range of 8mm thick glass Shower Enclosures and Bath Screens, Lumin8. Lumin8 has been meticulously designed to solve a variety of space restrictions in the bathroom, whilst illuminating the showering experience for the whole family. This stunning new collection from Roman provides showering solutions to meet all requirements, whilst bringing a touch of luxury into the bathroom. The Lumin8 collection comprises of both inward and outward opening doors, sliding doors and a series of intricately designed power shower approved Bath Screens. The range includes diverse options of designs and sizes available to provide something for every bathroom, whilst also being extremely competitively priced.
The Lumin8 range stands elegantly at a height of 1950mm with toughened 8mm thick glass. Detailing is fundamental to the Lumin8 range as it ensures its unique style and highest quality is captured in each product. The original detailing includes, the individual ‘wrap around’ chromed top caps, the clear low profile seals and magnet seals to the bright silver profiles for a modern finish. Roman handpicked the finest materials to craft exceptional components to manufacture this exclusive new range.
The Lumin8 range provides an ideal solution for smaller bathrooms with the One Door Quadrant and Two Door Quadrant, which make the most out of your corner space. Both will sit beautifully in the corner of your bathroom, with unobtrusive sliding doors. They include smooth running roller bearings for a smooth action and a ‘quick release’ door system for easy access cleaning. To ensure they fit into most bathroom spaces they are available in an offset shape for a larger showering area where space allows.
The Lumin8 collection includes a Pivot Door Shower Enclosure, which creates a clever and efficient space saving solution. The door can be installed into an alcove or with a side panel for the corner situation. An inline panel can also be used on the Pivot Door to allow a larger enclosure to be created.
The Lumin8 range incorporates an effortless action Sliding Door which again offers easy access as it does not project in to the bathroom area or the showering space. It exudes luxury with the smooth gliding door action and generous door opening. A Bi-Fold Door Enclosure is also featured in the Lumin8 range with its practical inward opening doors to allow more useable space and minimal intrusion into the bathroom area, where fixtures and fittings may need to be avoided.
Completing the Lumin8 range is the Frameless Bath Screen and the Frameless Hinged Bath Screen. The Frameless Bath Screen presents a minimalist designer look, whilst the Frameless Hinged Bath Screen features stylish chromed hinges. Both have a toughened glass thickness of 8mm, they are power shower approved for a superior showering experience and practically designed to fit around your current fixtures and fittings.
As with all Roman Enclosures and Bath Screens, the Lumin8 range will be manufactured in the UK. All products also incorporate 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 at Roman, commented: “We are very excited to finally unveil our new range of 8mm thick glass Shower Enclosures and Bath Screens. Today’s Customers are looking for and expecting outstanding value for money, which this range truly represents. We are proud to present this unparalleled range, which has been meticulously designed and manufactured to present a variety of sizes and designs to sit beautifully within any bathroom style. We have carefully designed and sourced all components of the highest quality and styled the collection to ensure it perfectly meets and shapes current bathroom style trends.”
Bashar Wali, President of Provenance Hotels, has recently announced the completion of a major renovation of the guest room floors at Hotel Lucia in Portland. The project, at a price of more than $2.3 million, brings a brand new look and feel to the guest room corridors and 127 sleeping rooms with new furniture, lighting, drapery, and carpet in every room. It also includes a guest room technology package designed to make being connected at Hotel Lucia fast, easy and intuitive.In Hotel Lucia’s guest rooms, the feeling of luxury and spaciousness has been enhanced with artfully scaled, custom designed furniture made of rosewood. A timber prized for its rich hues and dramatic grain, rosewood is typically employed in the production of small handcrafted items like guitars. At Hotel Lucia, it was used to create sleek, modern bed frames with integrated headboards and nightstands. Spanning the entire wall behind each bed, these functional yet dramatic elements are topped with Starphire glass in a milky mint hue. New rosewood dressers feature the same glass on the drawer fronts and side tables and desks made of rosewood are topped with it as well. This new furniture provides a warm visual pop against freshly painted white walls, textured wall treatments in a cool, grey tweed pattern and plush midnight blue carpet featuring a wavy, organic grey grid pattern.
Bedrooms and meeting rooms within Scotland’s five-star The Gleneagles Hotel, home to 2014’s prestigious Ryder Cup golf tournament, are now adorned with bespoke woven carpet from Wilton Carpets Commercial. Selecting a nine-row axminster for a combination of durability and luxurious underfoot feel, Greyline Design worked with Wilton Carpets to conceive two designs, each with a subtle indigenous quality as Gavin Liddle of Greyline Design explains:
“We were commissioned by The Gleneagles Hotel to refurbish a series of bedrooms and suites across a wing in two phases as the venue builds towards one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar. The hotel was keen for rooms to have an indigenous quality, without the obvious recreations of Scottish tartans found in other hospitality venues.”
Using a colour palette of heather, silver and green tones inspired by the hotel’s outstanding natural surroundings, the carpet achieves its patriotic outlook in bedrooms with a stylised thistle motif in a scale suitable for the sizeable bay window rooms. Then in suites and meeting rooms on the ground floor, a bespoke crackled design reminiscent of Scotland’s rugged landscapes in neutral tones has been created.
“The result is carpet that is opulent and elegant in both areas, completely befitting of the sophisticated and luxurious tone of The Gleneagles Hotel,” continues Gavin Liddle.
Across both designs a total of 2000 square metres of bespoke nine-row axminster from Wilton Carpets Commercial has been installed at The Gleneagles Hotel. Woven on Wilton Carpets’ performance axminster looms from a blend of 80% wool and 20% nylon to deliver durability and appearance retention, the carpet is now set for the capacity crowd expected in the build up to and throughout the Ryder Cup tournament.
The Gleneagles Hotel, set in grounds of 850 acres, is undergoing an £18 million redevelopment programme, partly in preparation for the 2014 Ryder Cup. The 40th Ryder Cup Matches will be held from 26–28 September 2014 on the PGA Centenary Course at the Gleneagles Hotel near Auchterarder in Perthshire, Scotland. This will be the second time that Scotland has hosted the Ryder Cup; the competition was held at Muirfield in 1973.
Accor announces the opening of Pullman Shanghai South, the second Pullman hotel in Shanghai and the 15th in China. Strategically located in the heart of Shanghai South, the hotel offers a vibrant, cosmopolitan and in-style guest experience to meet the needs of today’s hyper-connected travellers for whom the line between work and leisure has become blurred.
Connected with a shopping mall, a supermarket and an office building in the Star Plaza commercial complex, Pullman Shanghai South is the newest choice that appeals to travellers for both business and leisure. The 23-storey hotel offers 338 well-appointed rooms & suites and convenient access to Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai South Railway Station, Shanghai Stadium and Caohejing High-tech Park. Xujiahui, one of the city’s most visited commercial precincts is also within easy reach for dining, shopping and entertainment.
Upon arrival, guests are greeted by Pullman Welcomers who will remain their key contact throughout the stay for inquiries and assistance.
Guest rooms and suites spanning from 40 to 406 square meters are designed for well-being and pleasure. The signature Pullman bedding, an innovative concept offers ultra-comfort, based on cutting-edge research into sleep and materials. The Bois d’Orange scent by Roger & Gallet amenities, a prestigious French brand is available in each room. Other in-room facilities include a walk-in shower with a rain shower head, a large desk, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi access, a connectivity panel, an LED TV with international channels and a docking station.
BAGNODESIGN has launched a new product brochure for 2014, with over 200 pages of design inspiration, product specification details and prices. This new literature features more than 400 new products, which combined with the manufacturer’s existing portfolio of products ensure that BAGNODESIGN is able to offer the complete bathroom solution. From the latest contemporary styles to products that are perfect for customers looking for a classic finish, the BAGNODESIGN collection for 2014 encompasses every taste, with products at price points to suit every budget.
The new brochure, which is being sent out to 300 retailers across the UK, features no fewer than seven sanitaryware ranges, five of which are new for 2014. One of the many highlights of the brochure is the company’s new Urban collection, which taps into the trend for contemporary, loft-style design with a comprehensive choice of basin and vanity unit options, together with a matching WC and bidet.
Also featured are BAGNODESIGN’s wide range of washbasins, manufactured from a variety of materials including marble, stone and copper, enabling them to be chosen as statement pieces in the modern bathroom. There are also dedicated sections for the company’s wide range of mixers, shower solutions, baths, mirrors, Spa TVs, urinals, assisted bathing products and accessories. For the first time, the BAGNODESIGN brochure also contains details of the fixing kits and plumbing solutions which can be purchased alongside the sanitaryware to ensure the customer has everything they need to create a beautiful bathroom space.
The Jasper Chair, supplied to the UK by The Contract Chair Company has been one of the highlights of IMM Cologne 2014 Furniture Fair. The versatility of this art-deco style piece allows the designers to finish and upholster it in many options to match wide variety of periods and styles. Considering that executing furniture in bespoke finishes is one of the distinguished specialities of The Contract Chair Company, hotel designers are enabled to use this extraordinarily comfortable dining chair in various set-ups.
The sample of Jasper Armchair is already available in The Contract Chair Company’s Central London Furniture Showroom.
Heralded as one of the most highly-anticipated openings of 2014 in one of the world’s most culturally-rich cities, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. and Sekisui House, Ltd., one of Japan’s leading property developers, officially opened The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto today; the city’s first truly international luxury hotel and Japan’s first urban resort.Located in the heart of a city famed for its Zen temples, palaces and gardens, the riverside resort brings the unsurpassed elegance and renowned service of The Ritz-Carlton to Kyoto, while honoring the cultural heritage of the city through design.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto is a peaceful sanctuary. It sits on the gentle banks of the Kamogawa River in Nijho Ohashi, close to Kyoto’s popular downtown areas including Gion and Kawaramachi-dori, the city’s retail and entertainment districts.
The hotel’s luxury guestrooms and suites offer full views of the river and the Higashiyama Mountains. The architects and designers have retained the character and aesthetic of a traditional Meiji house and courtyard into the architectural structure of the building. The interiors created by Peter Remedios and Spin Studios pay homage to the traditions of Japan, with patterned motifs created by local artisans and the incorporation of Zen rock gardens (karesansui) and water features, including a four-storey waterfall are aesthetically positioned in the heart of the hotel.
The Kamogawa Suite and its sister suites with their moon deck gardens (tsukimidai) and floor to ceiling windows offer luxurious accommodations with enviable panoramic views of the river and mountains, forming an unrivalled sanctuary of luxury refinement and service.
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, nestled at the foot of the waterfall, features seven intimate and inviting treatment rooms and offers signature services inspired by the rich culture of Japan and ESPA. These include a traditional Acupressure Massage using the dry Shiatsu techniques as well as the Ryokucha Serenity Ritual based on green tea leaves, Gyokuro, dried from the Sun for 20 days in Uji, southern Kyoto and famed for their restorative properties.
In a city famed for its culinary offerings, The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto adds new and distinctive fine-dining experiences against an elegant backdrop.
The Japanese restaurant, Mizuki, modeled around a dynamic landscape composed of stone garden, water fall and historical features, serves modern Japanese cuisine including a famed Kaiseki options alongside sushi, tempura and teppanyaki. The restaurant includes an outdoor terrace complete with fire pits for gourmet diners to enjoy the dynamic scenery during Sakura and Autumn seasons.
La Locanda, the Italian restaurant, pays homage to the hotel site’s history. Its private room, called Ebisugawatei, is a preserved historically-listed building while the restaurant also features its own walk-in charcuterie and l’affineur cheese cellar. The unrivalled wine list offers 250 varieties from Super Tuscans to Italian regional classics.
Meanwhile, Pierre Hermé Paris, creator of Haute Pâtisserie, will bring his popular creations and introduce an exclusive range of signature desserts to The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto. The unique collaboration will showcase his work throughout the property including restaurants, meetings, weddings and banquets.
The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto also introduces extraordinary meetings, luxury weddings and special events spaces with four rooms, each named after a cherry blossom species – Takane Ballroom, Kocho, Shidare and Kanzan meeting rooms. The property will also feature a wedding showroom consulting for couples on their big day, showcasing the detailed finery and services that will transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Signbox have just launched Lumos², the latest version of its patented LED illuminated signage. Available in standard white and a vivid range of LED colours, Lumos² is ideally suited to applications such as cloakrooms and meeting rooms. Safe and incredibly energy efficient with a rated life of around 50,000 hours, the ultra bright 1W Luxeon LEDs are said to be ’fit & forget’ devices.Precision engineered in satin anodised aluminium, 40mm square x 35mm deep, Lumos² is designed to support and edge illuminate laser etched acrylic panels resulting in a contemporary, stylish appearance that will enhance any office environment. They can also be fully weatherproofed for external signs and, with very low power consumption, are eco-friendly.
Included in the new range is Lumos² tricolour, which will switch from green-white-red illuminations and is therefore perfect for meeting rooms with its inherent vacant / engaged functionality.
The new Lumos² sign range is available now from Signbox’s online store: the first choice for superior quality, aesthetically pleasing ‘off-the-shelf’ signage. For more information visit: www.signboxshop.co.uk.
Following the positive news regarding the FCO lifting its advice against all but essential travel to the whole of Egypt, the recent incidents in Cairo surrounding the third anniversary of the uprising, should not overshadow Egypt’s world class appeal as a tourist destination.Omayma El Husseini, ETA’s Director of UK & Ireland, stated, “While there have been incidents in Cairo, they have been in Cairo alone. With the exception of North Sinai, the remainder of Egypt is a safe destination for tourists to travel to, explore and enjoy.”
Commenting on the ETA’s plans moving forward, El Husseini said, “We are engaging in long-term initiatives that focus on investment opportunities in the tourism industry to ensure that our integrated tourism plan provides an enhanced and safe offering for all tourists. Specifically, this includes measures such as upgrading infrastructure, enhancing road security by training tourist bus drivers, and providing extensive training programmes to all levels of staff in the tourism sector.”
Furthermore, the ETA has organised a comprehensive programme of visits by overseas tourism officials in key markets to meet their counterparts to discuss the industry and for the plans to be relayed back to their respective country’s tourism sector. As one of the four key sources of national income, Egypt’s global tourism programme will see the development of niche markets including golf, spa and wellness, classical tourism and diving.
“Egypt has invested in an aggressive promotional campaign in the UK & Ireland to promote the country as an attractive and safe destination. The UK was only down by five percent in terms of tourist arrivals in 2013, demonstrating that the British market has a resilient passion for all that Egypt has to offer.”
“2014 is a key year for all Egyptians who are looking towards political stability, security and the enhancement of the livelihoods of the country’s population,” concluded El Husseini.
Robert Chelsom, MD of Chelsom Ltd, dispels some common lighting myths including why there is so much negativity around compact fluorescent lamps, the current LED trend within the hospitality market and perceived Far Eastern quality issues. Q? Why are people negative about compact fluorescent lamps? A: In my opinion it is almost as though compact fluorescent lamps came out 20 years too early in terms of development. What I mean is, there were certain facets of compact fluorescent lamps which didn’t do the right job when they first hit the market but all that has now changed:
Compact fluorescent lamps are bulky – Yes the first ones were but there are now shapes and sizes which are at least as small as any old fashioned incandescent lamps including candle shapes. Compact fluorescent lamps give cold light – Absolutely untrue today. CFLs are available in a wide range of colour temperatures, both warmer and cooler than incandescent equivalents. The range of 2,700K to 3,000K covers what most of us would call warm white and this gives an identical colour temperature to incandescent and the two would be indistinguishable in conjunction with a fabric shade. Compact fluorescent lamps flicker – Yes originally with mechanical control gear but not at all today with modern electronic control gear. Compact fluorescent lamps are slow to reach full light output – In the early days, yes, but modern CFL’s are mostly called ‘instant start’ meaning they reach full light output in a matter of seconds rather than minutes. Compact fluorescent lamps are not dimmable – Not true – most manufacturers offer a self-ballasted dimmable lamp, for example the Osram 18W which dims very well with a good dimming range. For non self-ballasted lamps, dimming control gear is readily available although can be costly and somewhat bulky. Compact fluorescent lamps are expensive – CFLs have continued to fall in price since the day they were launched and now represent excellent value for money against other light sources. Compact fluorescent lamps are stolen from hotel rooms – In the early days when they cost £12 each and were a relative rarity, maybe that was the case. Today they are not worth stealing cost-wise and most people have got them at home anyway.
Q? Are LEDs the answer to all lighting requirements? A: I think the answer has to be a definite ‘no’ for now. It took a long time to create LED which gave out warm white light. Reds, greens and blues were followed by a cold blueish white light but as long as the manufacturing source is good quality, acceptable warm white colours are now available. Good quality manufacturing also means a consistency of colour temperature because with some cheap sources of supply almost every lamp gives out a slightly different colour shade. LED light is linear and has therefore been perfect for display and navigational lighting as well as back lighting and task lights. Making LED light shine through 360° (to replicate the light patterns of the old incandescent lamps) has been more of a challenge. Manufacturers continue to invent new ways to try and make that happen but so far there will always be one blank spot in the 360° circle. LEDs only reach their claimed lamp life if they have an extremely good heat sink and good ventilation inside any luminaire. Without that, the claimed 25,000 hour, 50,000 hour or even 100,000 hour lamp life can drop to under 10,000 hours. However, they are the future and will continue to develop with long lamp life, good colour and dimming capabilities. Be careful with dimming however, as it is essential that the LED lamps are compatible with the proposed dimming gear. Watch out for first cost too! LED lamps are still pretty expensive and need to be in use an awful lot to become cost effective against CFL equivalent options.
Q? Does Far Eastern manufacturing have a perceived quality issue? A: Yes, I think unfortunately in some quarters it still does. Personally speaking I think nothing could be further from the truth – remember the Chinese were making exquisite porcelain vases when in Britain we could hardly put a mud hut together. It is just like any other manufacturing in any other country where there are extremes of low quality and high quality, good work places and bad work places, high standards and low standards. The fact that the Chinese have just put a rocket on the moon perhaps shows their high standards of technical and quality achievements today. In some cases and in my industry, their quality of engineering and finish is better than I have come across anywhere in the world. Obviously all that has to be driven by good QC (we have our own factory inspectors controlling that) and more importantly it has to start with good design which good Chinese factories really appreciate and can’t wait to receive. The world’s a small place today and many geographical areas have different fields of manufacturing expertise. The important thing is that as a UK based product designer, I know where to have something manufactured with a perfect blend of price and quality. I am in no way knocking UK manufacturing and we are extremely proud of our ‘made in Blackpool’ statement, because our in house and local skills allow us to create the most spectacular one off custom pieces for the hospitality sectors.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the Crowne Plaza® JFK Airport New York City hotel. The property has undergone a significant multi-million dollar renovation funded by ERG JFK Hotel, LLC, featuring a unique interior design with runway murals on the lobby ceilings, guest room carpets and accent walls, and a modern glass design for the exterior façade. Located at 138-10 135th Ave., this nine-story Crowne Plaza hotel is the brand’s seventh in the metro New York City area. The hotel offers amenities that make it easy to get work done and that help guests unwind and relax, like complimentary Internet access, free parking, extended dining and bar service hours, a well-equipped fitness center, a zen room for yoga and meditation and the brand’s Sleep Advantage® program.
The hotel has 330 guestrooms, including five one-bedroom suites and 14 junior suites, and is the only JFK airport hotel to offer a Presidential Suite. Guests will enjoy the upscale and sophisticated bar and lounge services as well as a 24-hour lobby market, “Jet”, offering freshly-made sandwiches, salads and snacks. Approximately 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting space is available, including ten meeting rooms and a ballroom.
The hotel’s Idlewild Restaurant pays homage to the airport’s original name. Guests can enjoy continental cuisine with a variety of quality menu items for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and extended service hours. Additionally, the hotel features the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage program, which encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include signature bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones and aromatherapy.
The Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York City hotel, owned by ERG JFK Hotel, LLC, and managed by Gemini Hospitality, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it will soon introduce its Westin Hotels & Resorts brand to the island of Mauritius. Owned by Blue Ocean Park Ltd., The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius is scheduled to open in spring 2014. The resort will enjoy a pristine beachfront location in the historic Turtle Bay of Balaclava – the former breeding grounds of the Mauritian green sea turtle – on the North West coast of Mauritius, offering captivating views on the turquoise waves of the Indian Ocean. Nestled in lush tropical gardens and surrounded by sugarcane fields and mountains, the 190 beautifully appointed guest rooms, including 38 suites, will be designed to embrace the natural beauty of the resort’s unique scenery. All rooms will feature the renowned Westin Heavenly Bed®, the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and exclusive White Tea Aloe bath amenities, as well as the latest in-room technology. The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius will also offer five dining venues, including an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a pool restaurant and bar, as well as a lobby lounge.
Launched on the 28th January and occupying three immaculately restored yalis (waterfront mansions) on the Bosporus’s European shore, ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites bring a new hospitality concept to Istanbul:
“Intimate home-style living finessed by the city’s most exclusive design house”.Available singly, as three separate houses or as one large residence, the 18 individual Suites celebrate the finest in local craftsmanship and hospitality, from exquisite textiles and objects d’art by Istanbul’s hottest young designers to Anatolia’s purest natural and regional cuisine.
Suites are a masterpiece of Ottoman symbolism and homely touches, adorned with antique glass chandeliers, silk drapes, hand-painted ceilings and original paintings, while cozy nooks and Bosporus-view terraces lend themselves to easy conversations and lazy afternoons.
But it’s their conceptual celebration of Istanbul’s rich contemporary culture that really set ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites apart. Conceived as a meeting place for international aficionados, the Suites draw on the knowledge, expertise and connections of the Turkish Cultural Foundation and NAR (Natural and Regional) Gourmet, transporting guests far from the homogenised idea of a guesthouse to a stylish immersion in Istanbul’s thriving cultural heritage.
“ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites bring together two cornerstones of Turkish culture – hospitality and heritage – and package them as a gift for international aficionados and cosmopolitan sophisticates alike,”
Life at the Suites is based around a communal sense of living that celebrates a coming together of minds. Meals are taken around the 18 seater dining table, in the individual yali’s dining rooms or on the terrace with friends from Istanbul’s thriving arts, media and business worlds regularly visiting to engage in lively cultural discourse.
Guests can enjoy bathing and massages in the private Turkish Hammam; make use of the Suites private boat and direct water access and mix with like-minded sophisticates in an atmosphere of relaxed refinery.
Private cultural immersions range from private jet trips to see the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, to after-hours shopping experiences at ARMAGGAN’s two flagship emporiums.
ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites aim “To present its guests with the opportunity to enjoy the finest contemporary Turkish culture from the ease of their own waterfront residence”.
December Highlights • Dubai hotels end 2013 with occupancy above 80 percent as rates and profits surge • Jeddah witnessed growth in all key performance indicators in December • Doha hotels experience stronger demand, however rates and profits continue to fall • Egypt hotels posted lowest performance amongst the five markets featured
Travelodge has recently announced that two of its prominent London hotels, at Marylebone and Wembley, are to undergo an extensive refurbishment programme to the value of £2million. Work has already started and is part of a £57 million company wide refurbishment programme in a bid to grow the business, strengthen the brand offering and make Travelodge the UK’s favourite hotel brand for value.
By autumn this year, 80% of the Travelodge estate will be refurbished in line with the Company’s new design. This will include 47 hotels in London being refitted in the new Travelodge design at a total investment cost of £9 million. (Over the last nine months, 33 of the 60 London based Travelodge hotels have already been refurbished)
Across Travelodge’s portfolio of hotels, Marylebone and Wembley are receiving the biggest investment to date from the programme
Both hotels will be completely fitted out in the new modern, fresh Travelodge design. This includes a new room design which has been created by Travelodge customers and includes a bespoke luxury king size bed called the *Travelodge Dreamer – which is deemed in the industry as the Rolls Royce of beds and is usually found in luxury hotels. The room also features a sleep inducing colour palette in a tranquil blue and cream, as well as stylish swoosh stripes on the curtains and bed runner. Other additions in the new Travelodge room include a larger desk, new carpet, artwork above the bed and a stylish white contemporary en-suite bathroom.
Paul Harvey, Travelodge Managing Director – Property said: “We are delighted to be investing £9 million into our London hotels. Over half of our London properties have already been refitted in our new fresh modern design and customer feedback has been extremely positive.
“Our Wembley and Marylebone hotels are receiving the biggest share of investment from the programme as both properties were conversions of going concerns, and they need the extra cash to fully convert them into the new Travelodge style.
“The demand for good quality, low cost accommodation is growing at great pace across the capital and our new product is well placed to offer business and leisure travellers the best value in the city.”
Wembley Travelodge, a 176-room hotel is located just half a mile from Wembley Stadium and Arena, making it a popular choice for visitors to both venues. The hotel, formerly a Holiday Inn Express, was opened in 2006 on the North Circular Road and will see £1.1 million spent on its refurbishment programme which is expected to take three months with no disturbance to the day-to-day operation of the hotel. The refit will also see a redesign of the hotel’s restaurant and public areas.
The 92-room Marylebone Travelodge hotel, formerly a Ramada Hotel is just footsteps from Marylebone station – a vital overground and underground transport hub. The hotel, which opened in 2006 and is having £800,000 spent on its refurbishment programme, which is expected to take six weeks.
The refurbishment programme is being carried out by Travelodge’s in-house maintenance team.
Harlequin has added a new dimension to its existing bedlinen offer with the introduction of the luxurious and chic Momentum woven bedlinen collection. Adapted from three striking signature designs in the recent Momentum fabric collections, Momentum bedlinen is sleek, sophisticated and understated, the epitome of boutique hotel luxe and designer elegance.All three designs, Cable, Lattice and Vortex, are available in a range of four sizes of duvet cover (single, double, king and super king) with coordinating pillowcases, accessorised by cushions and throws.
Cable: The duvet cover features a striking monochrome horizontal jacquard stripe in a linen colour on a charcoal ground, woven on 280 thread count 100% cotton. It has a 200 thread count pure cotton plain dye percale reverse in slate. The oxford and 65cm square pillowcases reproduce the jacquard design to continue the dramatic stripe from the top to the bottom of the bed. Cable is complemented by an allover, abstract-embroidered, cotton sateen boudoir cushion in taupe with a plain linen reverse.
Lattice: This design is all about textured effects and layering. The duvet cover features a graphic stonewash cotton-mix jacquard weave in chalk on the front, with a 200 thread count chalk-coloured cotton percale plain dye on the reverse. The oxford and 65cm square pillowcases mirror the allover motif of the duvet. Lattice is complemented by two cushions: People, depicting shadowy silhouettes, is a 45cm square cushion embroidered in ivory on a linen ground; and the Lattice cushion, a pleated boudoir pillow in faux silk and linen. There is also a chic quilted throw to complement the bedlinen.
Vortex: This elegant jacquard design features a bold silhouette of overlapping swirls. The duvet cover has a stylish taupe and linen colour combination with the reverse in a plain dye pebble colourway, with matching piping. The oxford and 65cm square pillowcases continue the design of the duvet cover. The stonewash jacquard is a cotton mix and the reverse is 200 thread count 100% cotton percale. Vortex is complemented by a tie-ended cushion and a hand quilted throw with kantha cross quilting and a plain cotton reverse, bound in cotton.
A historic building in Nottingham city centre has undergone a £1.5 million transformation into a new boutique hotel, bar and brasserie.
The Bentinck Hotel is located on Station Street and now boasts thirteen luxury bedrooms furnished with comfortable beds, flat-screen televisions, power showers, and free WiFi. The building dates back to the eighteenth century and has been developed to a high standard, whilst still maintaining many of its traditional period features.
“It is great to see such a beautiful building brought back to its former glory”, commented Ken Burt, owner of the Bentinck Hotel.
“We are offering guests the choice of thirteen unique luxury bedrooms, all with their own modern amenities and individual features. The restaurant will be serving up a fantastic breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, whilst the bar has a wide range of premium drinks on offer.
“Being home to the Capital FM Arena, Trent Bridge, Nottingham Castle and the two football stadiums, the city has some of the best leisure venues in the county. With the new train station opening soon, The Bentinck Hotel is perfectly placed to offer both short and long stay accommodation at the gateway to Nottingham and our bar and restaurant is a great place to grab lunch or hold a business meeting.”
Working with leading designers Martin Hulbert Design, Dernier & Hamlyn recently refurbished the heritage lighting in the restaurant at Cliveden House, the celebrated grand country house that is now a luxury hotel and spa.The painstaking work included dismantling three large crystal chandeliers before taking them back to Dernier & Hamlyn’s London workshop. In addition to intensively cleaning using specialist techniques and rewiring them, new silk shades and longer candle sleeves were fitted. The chandeliers were also restyled to make new features of their existing metalwork.
Dernier & Hamlyn also refurbished 10 cast solid brass wall sconces by meticulously cleaning and rewiring them.
Martin Hulbert says: “I have previously commissioned Dernier & Hamlyn for many award winning projects. They are a pleasure to work with and quickly understand what it is I am trying to achieve and always deliver to mine and my clients’ immense satisfaction.”
Mike Pro is the first in a brand new category of professional bathroom brassware by Crosswater. This is not just a new range but a whole new concept of designer brassware designed and manufactured for the topmost echelons of interior design in grand luxury hotels or for the dream home whether new build or refurbishment.Mike Pro comprises a complete collection including basin mono blocs, mini basin monoblocs, and wall mounted plus and deck mounted basin taps in twin or single lever variants. In a choice of two finishes, chrome or brushed stainless steel, Mike Pro also features a dynamic collection bath overflow fillers with smart control valves. To complete the Mike Pro offer there is one of the most wide-ranging line up of thermostatic recessed shower valves to suit single, double and three outlet applications.
David Hance, Group Chairman of Crosswater and lead designer on the project encapsulates the essence of the brand, “Mike Pro is for bathrooms that are as beautifully crafted as they are designed with fabulous performance and inbuilt water saving features. This collection has been developed using feedback and suggestions from renowned architects, interior designers, installers and specialist bathroom retailers. This striking range is anchored with strong, timeless architectural appeal that will appeal to professional specifiers of luxury homes and hotels.”
Crosswater identified an opening in the bathroom brassware market for a hi-design collection of brassware that delivers all the requirements of commercial specification without compromising on design integrity, suitable for interior designers and home owners alike. All products feature WRAS compliant components and shower valves are fully TMV2 approved.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has announced it has opened the first Crowne Plaza in Serbia – Crowne Plaza® Belgrade. Boasting the largest hotel ballroom in the country, the hotel’s meeting facilities further set it apart from the competition. Originally opened as InterContinental Belgrade in 1979, the hotel was bought by Delta Holding in 2008. Delta Holding has since signed a new management agreement with IHG and has invested in the transformation of this famous hotel into a Crowne Plaza. The distinctive look of the hotel’s exterior has been retained whilst the interior has been completely restyled to encompass a simplistic elegant design and large welcoming spaces.
Conveniently located in the business district of Belgrade, the hotel is a five minute drive from Belgrade’s city centre and a 15 minute drive from Nikola Tesla International Airport. Crowne Plaza Belgrade features 416 rooms, two restaurants, lobby bar, an exhibition hall, a full service business centre, 12 meeting rooms and a fitness and spa centre with the largest hotel swimming pool in Serbia.
The hotel features the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage® programme, which encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Programme components include signature bedding, wake-up calls, designated quiet zones and aromatherapy.
For British made, bespoke and standard switches and sockets look no further than Focus SB. We offer a wide range of styles and finishes to suit period properties, including Prism II Clear Acrylic, shown on this article. This screwless range is unique to Focus SB and allows your chosen wall coverings to shine through. Visit our website or see us at The Listed Property Show.
Switches and sockets can be supplied primed ready for you to paint or we can spray them in house to match any RAL or Pantone colour, ideal to blend in with painted interiors.
It stands almost as a symbolic icon of the recovery of Germany from past disasters. Top floors burned out, requisition by occupation forces, rebuilt and now refurbished as an exemplar of luxury, the Park-Hotel Dusseldorf is massively reassuring. In a world where provincial concepts of luxury are frequently debased versions of the real thing, where local frequently means second rate and where refurbishment often equates to safe or boring, here quality standards deliver a guest experience that is in line with the hotels five star status.
Too many of my recent trips to look at hotels at this level have proved a disappointment, with ‘safe’ design delivering short term fixes to hotels that need fundamental upgrading. Whether this comes from management that is predictable or comfortable , or from clients that lack imagination and don’t see how interiors move upmarket all the time, or from designers who are cowed into delivering safe solutions is almost irrelevant. The reasons for timidity only contribute to the slow slide downmarket that typifies so much of European (especially UK) hotel stock.
The search for luxury solutions fails to lift many hotel interiors beyond the mediocre. Some of the efforts to succeed will not be to everyone’s taste but timidity in design wins no friends, nor loyalty from guests. Steigenberger has embellished its reputation for understanding luxury with the refurbishment of the Park Hotel in Dusseldorf, not just through the revamped interior design but through operationally understanding the differentiation of areas within the hotel. It also ties itself in to the cultural life of the city, not just because it is next door to the opera, but also by having an artist in residence scheme, the results of which you will see in many of the images in this Review.
Art can embellish interiors and well chosen art can help to create the identity of an hotel, creating dramatic impact in spaces that themselves may be boring, providing strong colour against which to balance the fabrics and soft furnishings. It can also be (when not lame or cheap reproductions) an investment, increasing in value over time, maybe even an investment which can fund a future refurbishment if chosen well. It can also provide wit and be a visual thematic link running through an interior scheme. Steigenberger has recognised that Art is also part of many wealth investments so tapping in to the local art market can be a way to connect with the local affluent guests a five star seeks.
The art also however tweaks a contemporary interpretation of a luxury interiors by giving it unashamedly modern images and a bright injection of colour. The art theme is carried throughout the public space, and the fine dining restaurant makes obeisance to both the visual arts and, perhaps, the art of the opera next door with its name of ‘the Artiste’. With its linked ‘Etoile’ bar this provides fine dining in the conservatory extension on one side of the hotel frontage, with the views into neighbouring parkland and over the artificial lake.
On the other side of the entrance is the ‘Steigenberger Eck’ a social bar and eatery. To call is a bistro would be to understate its quiet luxury, defined by both its remarkable linear chandelier and it external terrace. With its own street access this has a chance to become a local bar/diner with urban chic and sophistication. The history of this Steigenberger is one of royal patronage from the start, and it has played host to the cream of Dusseldorf since. The central location enhances its attraction in a quiet position within Dusseldorf, rapidly becoming one of my favourite cities.
With the red carpet on the steps and a formal but contemporary reception lobby giving access to both lifts and a staircase, the entrance is both functional and expansively welcoming. Given focus by the large chandelier and the large floral centrepiece it gives clear sight lines to staff over all the key areas, enabling both security and control to be efficiently and discreetly exercised. All the main areas – restaurants, bars etc.- are visible to the guest on entry. In bars and restaurant staff again have easy sightlines making greeting and controlling guests a simple matter. At all levels guests are always smilingly greeted and guided to tables etc., part of efficient and effective service that is not always found in a five star hotel, but appears very much a hallmark of Steigenberger.
Soft furnishings echo the past, appropriately for an historic five star. Drapes serve a dual purpose in that they provide an effective second line of insulation against the mid-European winter cold as well as the right kind of decorative ambience. Carpets also aid in insulation against both cold and sound, and the hotel boasts in its literature that it has English carpets (they are by Brintons) showing that some people at least recognise that not only is there a good utilitarian reason for carpeting but is it also a clear mark of luxury.
Timber or tile may be appropriate in more downmarket establishment such as a trattoria or a pub where resistance to spills, cigarette burns and easy cleaning are criteria, but high quality carpet creates a luxury feel underfoot and if specified correctly will certainly give a life of use as long as many engineered timber floors. Carpet in the corridors helps to keep the bedroom areas quiet too. Stair areas have seating areas at the top and the stairs are given a presence, with fire doors on hold backs so that the staircase remains open and visible, making it an attractive route for guests. Room layouts are planned so that the awkward corner areas become the suites and interconnecting rooms (see the floor plan).
As you rise through the floors the rooms become smaller as the top floor was originally laid out for the servants the wealthy brought with them. The smaller rooms are equally luxuriously finished and furnished, but now let as single rooms to reflect their smaller size. In many UK hotels these rooms would be regarded as a normal double (see the video on the last page) as they are reasonably large until compared with the standard rooms elsewhere on the floors below.
Larger rooms have separate toilet and bidet space, and again it is noticeable how many five star continental hotels still offer bidets, something missing from the mind of many UK designers, never mind a five star having both a soaking tub and a walk in shower as they frequently do outside the UK. UK five star standards seem to me to be decaying as owners and operators go for cheap solutions, whilst in the countries most of our tourist guests come from, bathroom standards in particular continue to rise with many beginning to offer his and her bathrooms (see One and Only for example), never mind just having a walk in shower and a soaking tub, bidet and a separate toilet area. Indeed in some countries now, new build regulations requite a separating toilet space from the rest of the bathroom.
Simple things are used here to raise the perception of standards to a five star level. Tiling on the bathroom floor, for example, is chosen for dramatic effect, with inlaid tile patterns mimicking gold and mother of pearl adding to the perception of luxury. It is a simple device that need not cost a great deal more than a plain or marble effect tile, but shifts guest perception of the quality.
As with so many things in the luxury market it is how perceptions are moulded rather than a different level of reality that counts. Throughout the hotel, from corridors to major public spaces, notable is the careful control and use of lighting (much supplied by Chelsom Ltd). Often when the designer departs the hotel has one light switch position, ‘on’, but not here. Here lighting is gradated and mixed with wall and ceiling light balanced by candles for romantic effect.
Similarly in the bedrooms lighting is controllable from the desk and the bedhead, making setting the level for the task in hand easy. Rooms all have sensibly designed desk and free WiFi makes working easy, along with the generous provision of sockets. (A tip by the way – I carry an extension board of UK sockets that plugs in with the local plug hardwired on the lead. With cameras, phones, laptop etc. to charge having 4 or five UK sockets on one cable makes life easier than carrying an large number of adaptors, or forming a queue).
Design of the bedrooms is well done. With traditional dark wood and brass casegoods it is likely that the 2012 refurbishment was limited to the decorative items and soft furnishings, but the rooms have been successfully given a contemporary feel and are very comfortable both physically and visually. Indeed the whole hotel is both comfortable and contemporary. It has a classical feel yet with contemporary art and fabrics, and good lighting, it feels modern, not like a hotel stuck in a past and that in 1902 was frequented by Royalty.
As an example of the quality of the Steigenberger Group it was well chosen. The group currently has 48 hotels in Germany but with new CEO Puneet Chhatwal coming in from Rezidor where he was part of Kurt Ritter’s team that grew that group from a dozen hotels to over 600,Steigenberger are poised to grow quickly, targeting EMEA. Somebody mentioned 1,000 hotels – well I wouldn’t disbelieve that. As Chhatwal said, they aim to be the BMW of the hotel world. If the Park Hotel Dusseldorf is anything to go by, the Bentley might be a better parallel. Mind you that brand is owned by BMW isn’t it…
Marriott International, Inc. together with Ian Schrager and The Witkoff Group, Winthrop Realty Trust, New Valley LLC and Maefield Development have recently announced plans for a second EDITION hotel in New York City. Scheduled to open in 2017 and located in the heart of Times Square, the new hotel will follow the expected 2015 debut of Manhattan’s first EDITION property located in the landmark Clock Tower building at 5 Madison Avenue. EDITION is a first class, full service, luxury lifestyle brand within the Marriott International portfolio, conceived in collaboration with legendary hotelier Ian Schrager. Marriott International will manage the hotel under a long-term agreement.Located at 701 Seventh Avenue, this will be the first hotel of this scale to be built in Times Square in over two decades. The world-class hotel design will feature floor to ceiling windows with unobstructed views of Manhattan in seventy percent of the property’s 452 guest rooms. The Times Square EDITION will be one component of a mixed use development which will feature 100,000 square feet of flagship retail, dining, entertainment and event space, as well an 18,000 square foot HD LED sign – one of the largest in the world. In keeping with the identity of EDITION, Mr. Schrager will lead all creative design and positioning for the hotel, as well as the entertainment programming offered within the property.
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. and iStar Financial Inc. provided to the ownership group an $815 million construction loan for the mixed use project which includes the hotel and retail space. In addition, Starwood Property Trust, Inc. and Starwood Capital Group Global, LLC and its affiliates have an equity interest in the transaction. As additional collateral for the loan, Marriott International has agreed to provide the lenders with the right (upon an uncured event of default under the loan agreement) to require Marriott to purchase the hotel component of the property during the first two years after opening for $314.6 million (i.e., $696,000 per room).
Mark Elliott of Hodges Ward Elliott acted as a hotel advisor to The Witkoff Group and partners.
Most recently, The London EDITION opened to rave reviews and this month was awarded “Best Hotel, 100 or More Rooms” by Travel + Leisure as part of the magazine’s annual design awards. The modern and luxurious hotel opened this past September in the historic building formerly known as the Berners Hotel, located in the city’s Fitzrovia neighborhood. Future EDITION hotels are planned for Miami Beach (2014), New York City (2015), Abu Dhabi (2015), Gurgaon, India (2015), Sanya, China (2015), Bangkok (2016) and West Hollywood (2017).
Morgan, the design-led British furniture manufacturer, joins a ‘Best of British’ line-up in Florida for the annual Cruise Shipping Miami event on 10-13th March 2014. Alongside Skopos, Brintons, Muraspec, Trimline and SMC Design on Stand 2301, Morgan has selected three seating collections along with some table designs to exhibit which are ideally suited to the international cruise market.The Pimlico 140 compact lounge chair is a new design to emerge from the Morgan Studio. Fully upholstered for maximum comfort, Pimlico features smooth curved lines with a unique inset oval seat pad which is wrapped by the frame. With its plump and inviting appearance, it is perfect as a bedroom chair and works equally well in the lounge or bar.
With dining a fundamental part of the cruise experience, dining chairs must be memorable for all the right reasons. Panama 841A armchair and the Boston 821AST stacking arm chair are great examples from Morgan; both feature sculpted wooden frames and deliver the finely crafted and highly polished finish associated with classic cruising.
From morning coffee to sundowner cocktails and later a hot chocolate before bed, tables too must work hard while cruising the high seas. Designed with a clear or sandblasted toughened glass table top, all with a chrome ring detail, the Seville 1670 coffee table is an attractive choice, while the circular Boston 1820/4 dining table in timber makes a striking statement with its central four-pronged pedestal. Finally, tall and elegant, the Poseur Table 1805 offers the perfect perch post within close proximity of the bar.
The cruise sector is a highly successful market for Morgan thanks to their ability to apply the Marine Quality Mark to produce attractive and practical furniture pieces of unsurpassed quality which fully conform to Marine Contract standards and IMO for upholstery materials.
Morgan is recognised for its exemplary eco-credentials, a fact independently endorsed by the ISO14001 environmental standard. All products are manufactured in a low energy consuming factory, using sustainable FSC timber, top quality CMHR foams and non rusting fittings.
December 2013 saw the launch of Andaz Peninsula Papagayo – one of Latin America’s most exciting new hotels, situated on the north pacific coast of Costa Rica. Launched in the last week of January at the resort is the new ONDA SPA, elevated into the trees of Costa Rica’s lush tropical forest and spread across 11,000 square-foot. The new ONDA SPA features nine treatment rooms – six indoor and three outdoor with sweeping vistas of forest and sea. Two of the three dual ONDA Suites, which are ideal for couples treatments, come complete with a luxurious soaking tub and private relaxation area. The spa menu comprises a wide array of therapeutic treatments and for the more active, there is also a 24 hour fitness centre with steam and shower rooms too.
Treatments at the ONDA SPA are individually tailored for each guest, but all use the healing power of water, natural local ingredients and Costa Rica ancestral organic remedies to invigorate both body and spirit. Pre-treatment, each guest is invited to choose from a special music menu from which a soundtrack that best suits their mood can be selected. These musical offerings have been entirely inspired by the natural sounds and rhythms of the surrounding Papagayo region and personally curated by the hotel’s dedicated Cultural Insider of Music, Jason Dietch. There is also a therapeutic tea menu for guests to select from.
ONDA’s signature treatment, the ONDA CAMBIO, promises an experience of personal wellness, blending together Papagayo’s culture, senses, smells and touches. Each of the qualified ONDA spa therapists are on hand to tailor the CAMBIO treatment to each guest which includes the use of fresh ocean water, locally grown botanicals and herbs to directly address each guests’ treatments needs, goals and desires.
The extensive spa menu further includes the ONDA Ritual – an initial, deep cleaning facial treatment followed by a relaxing Swedish massage with aromatic oils bringing powerful de-stressing benefits to mind and body. Body massages using a wide variety of natural products and techniques, volcanic hot and cold stones, natural sugar cane and reflex therapy are also available while facials include a ‘Rain’ herbal hydration treatment, the ‘Refine’ green clay detox, and an ‘Uplift’ soya anti-ageing treatment.
Guests wishing to prolong their experience can do so with a post-treatment addition such as a relaxing ONDA bath or scalp massage or just simply venture to the spa’s idyllic suite relaxation terrace which boasts serene views onto the ocean and dramatic, lush surroundings. The hotel’s two swimming pools are also within close vicinity of the Spa and guests can enjoy a rejuvenating bite to eat in one of the three themed restaurants which serve some of Costa Rica’s finest seafood.
Andaz Peninsula Papagayo is home to 153 spacious rooms including 21 suites and located approximately 20 minutes from Liberia International Airport (LIR) which offers daily services from several major U.S. gateway cities, frequent regional service from San José, the capital city, and seasonal service from other main international destinations. San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) has regular connections to several gateway cities in Europe and Latin America.
Dormy House is set to increase its popularity as a luxury hotel venue by unveiling an exclusive House Spa.
Award-winning spa designers Sparcstudio were commissioned to work on this extremely high-end project, calling on RHA Furniture to supply beautiful pieces from their Italian designer collections alongside bespoke seating, tables and feature pieces. Beautiful upholstered seating and rustic style tables are featured across the House Spa.
Photos of the new spa have already been published, the impressive interiors have been described as clean Scandinavian design meets cosy Cotswold stone.
The spa’s reception, lounge and dining areas feature custom made tables by RHA Furniture’s UK factory. Dining tables are made from solid character oak
RHA Furniture has over 20 years experience supplying contract furniture and custom made prestigious interior solutions to the leisure, hospitality, corporate and luxury residential sectors. Contact RHA Furniture for more information or to discuss a project.
Plans for the significant expansion of a holiday resort in Cornwall gain the approval of the council planning committee, taking the project a significant step closer to being granted full planning permission.The Retallack Resort and Spa at St Columb Major in Cornwall is planning to add an additional 334 units to its current site. The proposed new development will span 33 hectares and include a new reception building which will house a swimming pool, gym, function space, gym, restaurant, café and office space.Edmond Shipway is part of the team working with Hunter Page Planning to meet national and local planning policies with the development of a comprehensive energy and sustainability strategy that will ensure the site is energy efficient and has minimal carbon impact on the local environment.
Specialist sustainability consultants carried out initial energy and carbon calculations and identified suitable low carbon technologies that could be implemented on the site. This included; advice on the form and construction of the buildings to achieve maximum energy efficiency with recommendations on insulation, thermal envelope design and use of solar energy.
Daman Ranby, Director of the consultancy said; “Sustainability is essential to positive consideration of the application and the planning officer’s recommendation for approval; Cornwall Council’s Strategic Planning committee has duly resolved to grant full planning permission for the development. This is a major development that will give a substantial boost to the tourist economy in the area so it’s vital we ensure the site meets all the sustainability and environmental policy requirements.”
Hunter Page Planning is overseeing the planning stages of the project and Ian Gilbert, Senior Planner commented: “It is great to see Cornwall Council taking such a positive approach to truly sustainable economic development. We are very proud to have represented such a great scheme which will bring a great deal of economic, social and environmental benefits to the local area and the South West region. We are pleased to recognise the part that Edmond Shipway played in formulating our plans for a sustainable development and their role in progressing our application through the planning process.”
At the America’s Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles, Marriott International, Inc. announced that it had the fastest-growing new-construction pipeline in the industry, worldwide, in 2013, based on information published by Smith Travel Research. In addition, Marriott reported that it signed more than one hotel project per day in 2013, totalling a record 387 hotels and 67,000 rooms. The company opened nearly 26,000 new rooms in 2013 and, given its strong pipeline, expects new hotel openings to accelerate in 2014 and 2015. In 2013, Marriott increased its total development pipeline by over 30 percent. At year-end 2013, Marriott had more than 195,000 rooms under development across five continents, compared to 176,000 rooms at the end of the third quarter and 143,000 rooms just a year ago. At year-end 2013, the company’s global pipeline included 72,000 hotel rooms under construction, 83,000 rooms signed but not yet under construction, 11,000 rooms awaiting conversion to one of Marriott’s brands, and 29,000 rooms for projects that have been approved for development but not yet signed.
Fuelling this success is Marriott’s extensive line-up of 18 brands, the broadest in the lodging industry, including its luxury and lifestyle portfolio, which accounts for nearly 25 percent of the company’s overall pipeline.
“Our luxury and lifestyle portfolio of 438 hotels across nine brands* is robust,” said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International. “The Ritz-Carlton is recognized as one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands and is expanding outside the U.S. At the same time, we are rapidly growing new brands such as EDITION, Moxy Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott and Autograph Collection, all brand innovations that position us well with customers looking for a different type of experience.”
EDITION, an exciting full-service, luxury/ lifestyle brand conceived in collaboration with legendary hotelier Ian Schrager, continues to receive rave reviews following the opening of The London EDITION in 2013. EDITION is gaining ground, with 10 hotels open or in the signed pipeline, including The Miami Beach EDITION, scheduled to open later this year. Future hotels are planned for Abu Dhabi (2015), Gurgaon, India (2015), Manhattan Madison Avenue/NYC (2015), Sanya, China (2015), Bangkok (2016) and West Hollywood (2017), as well as the just announced Times Square EDITION in New York (2017).
Moxy Hotels is on track to open its first hotel in Milan, Italy, in August, and additional properties are expected to open in six other European markets in 2015. Combining contemporary design and approachable service at an affordable price, Moxy is projected to reach 150 hotels in the next 10 years.
The fastest hotel brand launch in the industry, the Autograph Collection has added nearly 60 hotels since its 2010 introduction at ALIS. A unique business venture, the Autograph Collection harnesses the power of Marriott’s global sales, marketing and revenue engines for independent hotel owners.
“Marriott’s determined focus on powerful brands and global growth has delivered unparalleled results,” said Tony Capuano, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Marriott International. “In 2013, we completed the largest number of new hotel deals in our company’s history, a pace of more than one new hotel project every day, benefiting from our partners’ improved access to capital, rising consumer demand in major markets, the impact of the growing middle classes in Asia and Africa, and greater international travel than ever before.”
In Africa, Marriott expects to complete the acquisition of the Protea Hospitality Holdings’ brands and its management business in April 2014. With Protea, Marriott will nearly double its distribution in the Middle East and Africa to 23,000 rooms and become the largest hotelier on the African continent.
In its Asia Pacific region, Marriott expects to open a hotel every week across 10 different brands, doubling in size, reaching 330 hotels with more than 96,000 rooms across 16 countries by 2016. In 2013, Marriott signed agreements to add 78 new hotels and more than 22,000 rooms in the Asia Pacific region, an industry-leading pace.
In the United States, Marriott ended 2013 with more than 22,000 hotel rooms under construction, representing the largest hotel construction pipeline in the industry, according to data from Smith Travel Research. In fact, Marriott operates or franchises one of every five new hotel rooms that opened in the U.S. in 2013. Driving these results is Marriott’s broad brand line-up, including the company’s newest brand in the U.S., AC by Marriott. Inspired by the fashion houses of Milan and already successful in Europe, AC by Marriott will open its first hotel in the U.S. in Miami this year, with 16 other projects under contract (totalling 3,215 rooms) around the globe.
“Staying focused on our strategy of global growth and brand differentiation has paid off for Marriott and its owners and franchisees,” said Sorenson. “We look forward to opening even more hotels in 2014 and beyond, introducing Marriott and its brands to new guests and welcoming loyal customers to new and exciting locations across the globe.”
It’s not quite “out with the old and in with the new” at Stylematters, but The Harriet furniture collection has a contemporary/retro vibe about its design (in with the old AND the new!) and they have just taken on two new members of staff who are both looking forward to a prosperous 2014 at the company.Fresh out the box! The Harriet
Express yourself in contemporary style with a retro vibe.
Beautifully designed and finished – super comfortable with an unlimited choice of fabrics and colours. All part of a collection of sofas, lounge chairs and stools.
Welcome Aboard – New Graphic Designers 2014
We have been joined by Will, a graduate from Leeds College of Art – “I’m an image manipulator, who’s strong on geometry and symmetry”, and Natalie, a Creative Media & Illustration specialist – “I surround myself with hand rendered typography and surface pattern.”
Contact us now to discover more about how we can help you bring your ideas to life!
BAGNODESIGN has bolstered its design team in London, with the appointment of Alex Keappock to the role of Project Design Consultant.Based at the company’s A&D Centre in Clerkwenwell, Alex will offer consultation and support to architects and designers, as well as developing new relationships within the design community in order to initiate sales of BAGNODESIGN products through specification and contract work.
Alex, who has a degree in Illustration from the University of Brighton, has a great deal of experience in sales and business development and has worked in the Middle East, the Far East and the USA. A new face to the bathroom industry, Alex is no stranger to the world of architecture and design, joining BAGNODESIGN from 3M, where he was Business Development Manager for the Architectural Markets Division for the UK.
He said: “The role required me to promote 3M architectural finishes and develop relationships with architects and designers throughout the UK. “I have lived and worked in South Korea, Japan, USA and Kuwait and am now excited to be living and working in London. It’s a great time to be coming on board at BAGNODESIGN, as they have an exciting portfolio of bathroom products that enable architects and designers to really make their mark, whether they working on commercial or domestic projects.”
Marriott International has announced the opening of two new properties in Dubai to kick start the expansion of its ever growing pipeline across the Middle East and Africa. The two properties carry the company’s signature brand, Marriott Hotels, as well as its upscale serviced apartments brand, Marriott Executive Apartments, which are situated in close proximity to Dubai’s MEA Al Jaddaf 1 Bedroom Living and KitchenRoyal residence, Zabeel Palace, and offer beautiful scenic views of the city landscape of Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay and the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa. Conveniently, the Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf and Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Al Jaddaf are a mere 10 minutes from each of these locations as well as Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall and the Gold Souk.The Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf is the first Middle East and Africa property to open as per the new brand transformation that Marriott Hotels has been going through globally since last year. This includes not only a new logo which keeps the iconic “M,” while modernizing its overall appeal, but also an ongoing innovation throughout its hotels around the world, with re-designed lobbies and public spaces known as ‘Greatrooms’ and introducing a mobile check-in application, all of which are rapidly being deployed for the next generation of travelers who blend work and play, demand style and substance, and require technology, and feature in the new Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf. Marriott Hotels has also launched a multi-year campaign called ‘Travel Brilliantly’ (www.travelbrilliantly.com); all done in a bold move to amplify the brand’s dedication to the future of travel.
The Marriott Hotels brand currently has 16 hotels in seven countries across the Middle East and Africa, with over 5000 rooms. By 2017, there will be a further twelve properties across the region, raising the room count by nearly 3000 rooms.
The Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf has 352 rooms across eight floors with 192 Deluxe King and 107 Deluxe Double rooms, including 39 Executive Suites, two Zabeel Suites and an exceptional Presidential Suite. Each space is designed for functionality and leisure with state-of-the-art technology, wired and wireless Internet and spacious amenities. The hotel also offers 14 elegant, meeting rooms as well as the magnificent Zabeel ballroom, which can accommodate up to a maximum of 540 persons.
The property boasts seven distinct restaurants, lounges and bars. Offering cuisines from around the world including Asian, European, Middle Eastern and a new American/Scottish concept, the hotel caters to the most discerning connoisseur and to guests looking for a relaxed meal.
Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Al Jaddaf is the brand’s sixth property in the region; with a further six set to open across the Middle East and Africa by 2017. Introduced in 1997 to the Marriott International portfolio, Marriott Executive Apartments is the company’s only corporate apartment brand designed to provide upscale residential living. Personalized service and the assurance of a Marriott experience allow guests to achieve what they need to in an environment that has all of the comforts of home. Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Al Jaddaf has 128 fully furnished apartments including one, two and three bedrooms providing the space, ambience and privacy of a home away from home.
There is no better way to kick-start the New Year than by brushing up on your knowledge of the latest sanitaryware and piping systems. Geberit has just announced new dates for its free training modules in spring 2014 enabling installers to secure their place.The next round of training modules will take place on the following dates:
Piping systems Wednesday 12 February Wednesday 19 March Tuesday 8 April Wednesday 14 May
Sanitary solutions Thursday 13 February Thursday 20 March Wednesday 9 April Thursday 15 May
Installers booking on to the modules can look forward to not only coming away with new-found knowledge about the latest products and systems but also armed with the tools of the trade, all completely free of charge. Everyone who completes Geberit’s sanitary systems training module gets to take home a Geberit Duofix frame, whilst a Geberit Mapress Pipecutter awaits those who attend the piping systems training session.
The piping and sanitary modules are also run over consecutive days, enabling those installers wanting to cover both aspects of the Geberit portfolio to do so with minimal time out of the workplace.
“Our training modules give a brilliant insight into not only the latest products and innovations that help make an installer’s job easier, but also into the latest trends and regulations, giving Geberit customers the first-hand knowledge they need in order to get the most out of our products,” explains Sara Johnston, Marketing & Communications Manager.
Held at Geberit’s purpose-built training academy in Warwick, the modules are free of charge, with refreshments also provided. To book your place on any of the spring dates email training.gb@geberit.com or call 0800 0778 365 today.
HVS Hodges Ward Elliott is pleased to announce that acting on behalf of Marriott International, it has successfully arranged the sale of Marriott International’s interests in the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel to an affiliate of the Qatar Armed Forces Investment Portfolio (QAFIP) for around €78 million. Marriott International will continue to operate the hotel under a long-term management contract. The 211-room Renaissance Barcelona Hotel occupies a prime location in the heart of Barcelona and was opened in April 2012 after extensive renovation, making it one of the finest upscale hotels in the city.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that its Le Méridien brand will soon add Indianapolis to its rapidly growing North American portfolio. Le Méridien Indianapolis will debut in November 2014 following a $9.5 million renovation of The Historic Canterbury Hotel, a landmark property in the heart of downtown. Owned by Rockbridge and managed by Azul Hospitality, Le Méridien Indianapolis will feature a timeless chic design ethos that juxtaposes the hotel’s historic architecture with a contemporary, modern style. The historic Canterbury site, dating back to 1858, was rebuilt in 1928 as a hotel infused with the charms of Canterbury, England. As part of the comprehensive renovation, Le Méridien Indianapolis will feature 100 modern guest rooms, local cuisine in a re-designed restaurant and lounge, an expanded fitness centre and more than 1,750 square-feet of upgraded meeting and event space.
Le Méridien Indianapolis will feature the brand’s signature Le Méridien Hub™, which re-interprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place, and further builds on the brand’s award-winning arrival experience and coffee culture. Le Méridien arrival consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas; the sensory experience, illustrated through Le Méridien signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART™ programme, featuring artist designed key card collections that offer access to Le Méridien affiliated contemporary cultural centers in the city; and a 24-hour curated soundtrack. The Hub at Le Méridien Indianapolis will also feature the signature Master Barista, a recently launched initiative to meet the growing demands of coffee lovers at every Le Méridien hotel worldwide. Master Baristas lead coffee-related initiatives at each hotel, serve as a coffee cultural ambassador, and maintain knowledge of current coffee trends within the destination.
Le Méridien Indianapolis is walking distance to the Indiana Convention Center, Indiana Statehouse and the offices of numerous corporations including Eli Lilly, Brightpoint and Wellpoint. The hotel is convenient to the city’s theatres, museums, galleries and music venues, and a private entrance directly connects the hotel to the Circle Centre Mall, where guests can access the city’s climate-controlled, indoor Skywalk system.
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