Hotel Designs

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of a new 79-room Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites Northwest Houston Brookhollow near Houston’s famed Energy Corridor – home to some of the world’s foremost oil and gas corporations – and just a few miles from the Galleria Mall. Located on Federal Plaza Drive and conveniently accessible to Interstate 45 as well as US Highways 290 and 249, the newest addition to IHG’s Houston hotels is also a short drive from downtown Houston and key businesses such as Baker Hughes®, BP® and Caterpillar Inc®. All rooms include a refrigerator, microwave and 42” HD televisions with an expanded cable line up. The hotel offers guests a comfortable, affordable stay with innovative, preferred-guest upgrades to ensure a pleasurable experience with amenities that include a 24-hour fitness center, complimentary high-speed Internet access, guest laundry area, Sundries Shop and a business center. Business travelers will find large desks with ergonomic chairs, free local phone and toll free phones with private voicemail, and complimentary copies of USA Today® newspapers. Additionally, guests can enjoy an outdoor saltwater pool, relax by the lobby’s indoor waterfall feature and make use of the meeting space that can accommodate up to 60 people.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Northwest Houston Brookhollow owned by Brookhollow Hospitality Management, LLC and operated by IHS Management Group, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

London based Asset Management firm Dominvs Group, today proudly announced the completion of its refurbishment project converting its Aston Hotel Sheffield into the Mercure Sheffield Parkway. The transformation of their 78-bedroom Sheffield hotel involved redesigning the traditional hotel lobby by combining the front desk, restaurant, bar, lounge area and business centre to ensure that customer happiness is always top of mind.

The professional team included RSD interiors as Interior Designers, Jaymar interiors as appointed build contractors with the hotel being operator by Dominvs Hospitality under a franchise agreement with Accor’s renowned Mercure brand.

The idea to convert and rebrand the hotel was initially devised by Dominvs Group three months earlier following the great success of previous rebrand projects taken place at their Darlington and Dumfries hotels.

The Mercure Sheffield Parkway hotel is located just four miles from Sheffield City centre and is only a stones’ throw from Meadow Hall Shopping Centre, making it the perfect place to rest your head after a weekend of indulgence or cultural discovery. The hotel offers guests a range of accommodation including classic, deluxe and privilege rooms and is well equipped with event and meeting facilities catering up to 150 guests. There is secure free parking and free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced the opening of Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center, a Rockbridge Portfolio property, following a $25 million transformation. Managed by Wischermann Partners Inc., Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center provides a new lens on Western Chicago’s sophisticated Oak Brook area, home to a multitude of upscale shopping and dining options as well as Fortune 500 business headquarters. Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center features 172 guestrooms and suites, including an extraordinary Presidential Suite and six spacious Executive Suites all featuring contemporary and mid-century inspired furnishings. The hotel also boasts 3,500 square feet of expansive event space, two contemporary Spa Suites and a sleek Spanish restaurant, El Tapeo, offering contemporary tapas style dishes and handcrafted cocktails.

Guests will be immediately enthralled by the new modern façade, which opens into the hotel’s signature and award-winning arrival experience, Le Méridien Hub™. Le Méridien arrival consists of four unique 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 the acclaimed Elmhurst Art Museum; and a 24-hour curated soundtrack by French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague. The Hub also features the signature Master Barista, a recently launched initiative to meet the growing demands of coffee lovers at every Le Méridien hotel worldwide. The 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 Chicago – Oakbrook Center brings a new lens on Oak Brook through the work of local Chicago artists and abstract installations representing notable Chicago symbols, such as bicycles and the Ferris wheel, which debuted at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. Upon arrival, guests will experience a large-scale, one-of-a-kind mural depicting the architecture of the city by contemporary artist Justus Roe of the Chicago Artists Coalition. The Hub also features an installation of a deconstructed bicycle, a nod to Oak Brook’s many biking trails, with the bike chain in the shape of Illinois and the headlight representing Chicago. Each floor of the hotel’s elevator lobbies showcases images taken from Chicago’s signature “L” train, including the mileage and direction from the hotel in relation to where each particular shot was taken. The Executive Club Lounge features eight stunning photographs by Chicago native Satoki Nagata portraying Chicagoland locals caught in the rain. Custom graphic patterns throughout the hotel, created by Starwood’s award-winning design team, are abstract designs of local contextual nuances, including original Daniel Burnham city plans for Chicago and maps of the public spaces of the Windy City.

The ninth floor of Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center boasts a 3,000 square foot Grand Salon Ballroom and Executive Club Lounge as well as the hotel’s new restaurant concept, El Tapeo, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and breathtaking views of the city. The 58-seat restaurant offers authentic Spanish cuisine, created by culinary artist and Chicago native, Chef Franco Diaz. In the hotel’s 25-seat lounge and 12-seat bar, guests are also served freshly made, handcrafted cocktails and light tapas style appetizers.

Le Méridien Chicago – Oakbrook Center also features two modern Spa Suites, featuring custom stone and marble décor, a stone-tiled rain shower steam room with a 32” heated mosaic tile bed amidst ten body sprayers, a luxurious soaking tub and a large relaxation lounge. The lounge is designed with seamless flexibility to allow guests to revitalize their mind, body, and spirit, as they relax in the plush comfort of an oversized sofa, or engage in an array of curated spa treatment services in partnership with ESPA.

Hotel des Dromonts, in the French ski resort of Avoriaz, will re-open after a complete redesign after becoming part of the luxury Maisons & Hotels Sibuet brand. Fifty years after first opening, the boutique 34-room hotel has been radically re-configured to incorporate state-of-the art facilities and will be decorated in signature Sibuet style. The hotel will also feature three very different restaurants and a signature Spa Pure Altitude with indoor pool.Perfectly positioned at an altitude of 1800m for guests who want to take advantage of early and late season snow. The four-star Hotel des Dromonts, offers a stress free ski in/out access making it the perfect choice for keen skiers who want to maximize their time on the slopes and cover as much of the world-famous Portes du Soleil ski area as possible. With over 296 ski runs, 11 snowparks and 11 boardercross runs right on the doorstep it is one of the most impressive ski areas to explore in the world.

Inspired by 60’s Mod style, with 29 spacious rooms and 6 suites, designed in ‘ski chamber chic’, the interiors will feature cosy fabrics, plush carpets and bright pops of colour to create a warm and comfortable atmosphere that revisits the retro style of the sixties. Hotel des Dromonts will have a dedicated children’s play area within the hotel to reflect Avoriaz’s popularity as a ski destination with families. The striking façade of Hotel de Dromonts will remain – a contemporary architectural landmark in itself, the multi-layered surface is covered in cedar shingles that is typical of Savoyard roofs. A new outdoor terrace will be added onto the exterior offering aprés-ski refreshment and spectacular panoramic views over the Alps.

Hotel des Drumonts’ Pure Altitude Spa will become the go-to destination in Avoriaz for relaxation and rejuvenation. Signature Pure Altitude treatments such as the ‘Bol d’Air Pur’ facial and the ‘Energetic of the Alps’ massage use high-performing Pure Altitude products that harness the active ingredients in Edelweiss and other mountain minerals to soothe tired muscles after a hard day on the slopes. The state-of-the-art Pure Altitude Spa will consist of 3 treatments rooms, a calming relaxation room decorated in locally quarried slate, an indoor swimming pool, a contemporary hammam, a sauna and a terrace with a jacuzzi where guests can relax and take in the mountain views.

In the evenings guests will be able to sample some Savoyard specialties in three of the hotel’s superb new restaurants that cater to every mood. Following on from the success of Les Enfants Terribles in Mégeve and Val-Thorens, the popular bistro will arrive in Avoriaz serving delicious haute-cuisine and the house favourite, ‘steak au poivre’. For those who wish to continue the aprés-ski spirit, Les Enfants Terribles DOWN, will offer a more lively dining experience bringing guests together round the famous bar for cocktails and serving small sharing plates of delicacies such as Ramon Pena sardines and freshly sliced Iberian ham. Finally, for a truly traditional Savoyard experience, The Table du Fromage, will be the perfect spot to enjoy classic alpine fare of fondue, tartiflette and raclette. The intimate restaurant space will have a resident master of cheese, Monsieur Bojon, who will be on hand to curate a menu to showcase the best cheeses from the local area.

Located above the French resort of Morzine, Avoriaz is linked with 12 other resorts either side of the Swiss-French border and is only an hour from Geneva. The resort was created by the Olympic ski champion Jean Vuarnet and Gerard Bremont in the 1960s and Hotel des Dromonts was the first major work of renowned architect Jacques Labro. Jean’s original vision was to create an avant-garde resort that transported guests away from everyday life with innovative but integrated architecture and for the roads to serve as ski runs. His unique vision is still very much alive today as guests can either ski or travel by horse and cart around the resort and the contemporary architecture compliments the natural environment to create a magical atmosphere.

Reconstruction and refurbishment is in full swing at andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge as part of a planned investment of ZAR 230 million in a number of safari camps and lodges owned by leading experiential travel company andBeyond. Reopening in September, andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge will be completely remodelled, with design and modernism carefully integrated with nature at its very core.
London, June 2014: Reconstruction and refurbishment is in full swing at andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge as part of a planned investment of ZAR 230 million in a number of safari camps and lodges owned by leading experiential travel company andBeyond. Reopening in September, andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge will be completely remodelled, with design and modernism carefully integrated with nature at its very core.

Twelve new suites will include one ‘family unit’ made up of two interconnecting suites, which will cater for families and small groups. The addition of three more suites is planned thereafter, completing the entire rebuild and making Sandibe one of the most architecturally impressive lodges in the Delta.

andBeyond Sandibe’s brand new look is inspired directly by nature. The weaver-bird’s nest building habits and the pangolin’s body armour of folded plates or scales have been the inspiration for the new building structure. Using organic materials such as wood to execute the structural design and installing the latest in alternative energy sources, the building work continues in line with andBeyond’s core ethos of Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People.

Joss Kent, andBeyond CEO states, ‘The innovative design of andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge is driven by nature and reflects the sustainable footprint of the lodge while remaining warm and intimate’.

The new suites, serene and organic, will be raised among the trees elevated above their surroundings, gazing out onto the winding channels and lush floodplains of the Delta. Boasting private plunge pool, the nest-like suites will be uncluttered and elegant, becoming private cocoons at night with fireplaces providing warmth and light in the winter. The interiors will celebrate the very best of Botswana craft, with natural rusty tones, copper-clad mekoro, sculpted wooden tables and intricate baskets.

Situated on a private concession, andBeyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge has exclusive traversing rights over 22,500 hectares of wildlife land situated in one of Africa’s most breathtaking landscapes. andBeyond Sandibe provides one of the best wildlife experiences in the Delta, offering day and night safaris, bush walks and drives to view iconic species including the giant horned kudu, secretary birds, cheetah, wild dog, elephant, antelope, hippo and giraffe.

A maze of sparkling lagoons, meandering channels and overgrown islands teeming with wildlife, Botswana’s Okavango Delta lies at the heart of the Kalahari Desert, and now andBeyond Sandibe stands as its jewel.

During the refurbishment programme of Pullmantur Monarch, Chelsom worked closely with designers, EM Studio and outfitters, Blu Marine to transform the suites of this luxurious ship.Glass art table lamps from the ‘Flask’ range teamed with ivory cone shades were supplied for the Suites, featuring mouth blown opal glass and polished chrome metalwork with a customised base to accommodate marine fixing requirements. The adapted table lamp is an excellent example of cruise ship lighting addressing the functional requirements of yacht and cruise lighting whilst also offering an aesthetically pleasing lamp to enhance the interior scheme.

Amethyst table lamps from the same range were supplied for the Royal Suites, finished with tapered oval shades in ivory with a contrasting grey trim. Wall lights from the ‘Suite’ range were also selected for the lighting scheme featuring notched polished chrome curving crossovers giving the illusion of one passing through the other while cream oblong shades are a clean and sophisticated addition.

The 2014 edition of the “red dot award: product design 2014” once again saw GROHE prove its prowess as a leading manufacturer of design taps and water fittings. Apart from picking up awards for its Thermostat Grohtherm 2000, its GROHE Rainshower® Flower Collection and its Eurodisc Joystick line of taps, GROHE also won the “red dot: Best of the Best” award for its Minta Touch kitchen tap. This marked the fifth time in seven years that GROHE was able to secure what is arguably the design community’s most coveted accolade. Its elegant silhouette has already made this kitchen tap a design classic, which continues to win favour among discerning consumers worldwide. Created in the GROHE Design Studio and now incorporating the innovative EasyTouch technology, GROHE Minta Touch is not only an eye-catcher but also scores big points in terms of engineering. Specifically, Minta Touch is a hybrid tap offering two modes of operation. In addition to conventional lever operation, the flow of water can be triggered by skin contact with any part of the spout. This means whenever the fingers are dirty from preparing food, a simply touch with the back of the hand or the lower arm will start the flow of cool and cleansing water. By developing this unique touch sensor technology, GROHE has reinvented the kitchen tap and repositioned it as a modern product that is fit for the 21st century.

Paul Flowers, Senior Vice President of Design at Grohe AG, said: “When we set out to create GROHE Minta Touch, we started by exploring the boundaries of modern technology in cooperation with our colleagues in R&D. This is why we take pride not only in the tap’s technical and visual features but also in the cooperative spirit, which made it possible in the first place. Winning the “red dot: Best of the Best” is clearly the result of a team effort and we appreciate this award as a very special accolade. “

Minta Touch faced some tough competition in this year’s “red dot award: product design”. A panel of 40 judges scrutinised and tested a total of 4,815 entries submitted by 1,816 manufacturers, designers and architects from 53 countries. The awards were presented at the red dot gala event held in the Aalto Theater in Essen, Germany, on July 7.

Room occupancy at Liverpool’s most prestigious address has surpassed the rest of the city according to the latest figures.Hotels on Liverpool’s Waterfront averaged 82 per cent occupancy against the city average of 78 per cent between April and June.

Of the 350,000 rooms sold in Liverpool during Q2, one in five (22 per cent) were sold at the six hotels on Liverpool Waterfront.

The average room rate at hotels on Liverpool’s Waterfront was 11 per cent higher, at £75.47, than the £67.97 average room rate for the rest of the city.

In addition, Revenue Per Average Room (RevPAR) – an industry standard used to recognise yield per available room – was £61.80 at the waterfront, compared to the city-wide average of £52.83.

Sue Grindrod, director and chair of Liverpool Waterfront Business Partnership said: “Liverpool Waterfront is a great place to do business and the figures from spring and early summer show that business was booming even before this year’s major events in the city.

“The success of the hotels at Liverpool Waterfront is a reflection of the wider global trend as many of the world’s major cities like Copenhagen, Shanghai and New York have recognised the value of being by the water.

“Liverpool is continuing to build its profile as a global player and it’s great to see businesses at the waterfront being a significant part of the city’s success.

The six hotels surveyed on Liverpool Waterfront were: Malmaison, Crowne Plaza, Express by Holiday Inn, Premier Inn Albert Dock, Jury’s Inn and Staybridge Suites.

Stephen Robert, general manager at The Crowne Plaza at Princes Dock, said: “Compared to recent years, The Crowne Plaza has enjoyed improved business levels during Q2 compared to the norm for this time of year.

“This has been driven in the main by events such as the Grand National in April and the IFB in June which was a first for the city. The location of the business hub at Mann Island ensured that the city’s waterfront was the destination of choice for many of the business delegates during this time.

“It was great to see the quarter doing so well during this period and we’re looking forward to the return of events like these in 2016.”

Liverpool Waterfront is home to a thriving business community and offers a range of commercial space by the docks and in the dramatic recent development, Mann Island.

Figures were provided by the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

The gem in question is probably one in a million however, when the 60 carat heavy-weight Mozambican aquamarine worth £40,000* is raffled by prison charity Fine Cell Work on 20 November 2014, ticket holders will have a one in a thousand chance to win it.Gem hunter and merchant, Guy Clutterbuck has generously donated an exquisite, multi-faceted, unheated, cushion-cut aquamarine to Fine Cell Work to raise funds for its invaluable work that helps prisoners in the UK to turn their lives around. To augment Guy’s generosity, the renowned jewellery designer Georgina Skan, former Head of Design at Garrard and Asprey, has offered to design an exquisite setting and Fine Cell Work will donate £1500 towards the materials. This is an extraordinary fund raising initiative that will result in a remarkable piece of jewellery to treasure.

Raffle tickets cost £50 and are available from Fine Cell Work – www.finecellwork.co.uk/raffle and all the proceeds go directly to the work of the charity. The raffle will be drawn at an exclusive party at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on 20 November 2014. The prize draw aims to raise £50,000.

Fine Cell Work is a social enterprise that trains prisoners in paid, skilled, creative needlework — undertaken in the long hours spent in their cells — to foster hope, discipline and self esteem. This helps them to connect to society and to leave prison with the confidence and financial means to stop offending. Prison stitchers spend an average of 20 hours per week doing embroidery in their cells: the highest earners stitch for as long as 40 hours. It builds self- discipline and skills that enables them to serve their time with purpose and dignity. Their modest earnings from stitching nurtures a work ethic and a sense of independence. Fine Cell Work is done in 24 prisons with 450 prisoners each year and 97% of the stitchers are men.

Baulmann Leuchten has recently introduced a new range of LED luminaires. This new range consists of tablelamps, floorlamps, pendants and wall-mounted luminaires.These products are part of the new Baulmann Vintage range of revived product lines from the 50s and 60s. Outstanding features from the old models were reinterpreted and merged with modern elements to create a completely new futuristic-classical design with state-of-the-art LED technology. All these items are equipped with the latest LED technology with an excellent colour rendering and a warmwhite colour temperature.

As usual, all these products can also be customized to meet the requirements of different projects.

All pictures are copyright by Baulmann Leuchten.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has recently announced a new 123-room Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood and a 139-room Holiday Inn Express® Atlanta NW – Galleria Area hotel. The newest additions to IHG’s hometown portfolio brings IHG’s hotels in the metro Atlanta area to over 40, with more than 20 additional hotels in the pipeline for the state of Georgia. The Holiday Inn Express Atlanta Buckhead hotel is a short drive from the World of Coca-Cola®, the CNN® Center and the Georgia Aquarium, conveniently close to numerous corporate offices and shopping venues such as Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza and home to 20 two-room king suites with some featuring two bathrooms, a wet bar and a conference table. Guests can enjoy the two-story combined bookcase and fireplace in the hotel lobby, large outdoor pool and a beautifully landscaped courtyard. The hotel also provides 1,100 sq.ft of meeting space that can accommodate over 45 guests.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites – Atlanta Buckhead, owned by Georgia Hotel Group, LCC and operated by Summit Management Corporation, and the Holiday Inn Express Atlanta NW – Galleria Area hotel, owned by Mogar Farms Funding, LLC, and operated by Buckhead America Hospitality are both franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

The new KENSINGTON printed range from Sekers is the natural progression from the very successful LARISSA range and is available in the same base cloths: Panama, Plain, Satin and Blackout with the addition of a waterproof upholstery option.The range comprises two floral designs called Poppy and Elder; a contemporary vertical stripe, Oakley; and a co-ordinating design, Newbury. Available in fresh and uplifting colourways from Aquamarine, French Blue, Cherry, Palm and Grape, it’s the perfect solution to furnish residential care homes, healthcare projects, hospitality and marine markets.

For a pattern book, samples or further information, please contact us sales@sekers.co.uk or visit our web site www.sekersfabrics.co.uk

These exquisite Rocks and Pebbles are constructed of virgin wool yarn coaxed into organic shapes and made waterproof with sap from the Lacquer tree.Rocks and Pebbles are a Fair Trade product, made in Johannesburg by the lovely ladies of the
West Rands Community.

Available in sizes 90x85x55cm, 75x70x45cm, 50x50x30cm 40x30x20cm

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) has announced that it has received a binding offer from Constellation Hotels Holding Limited (“Constellation”) to acquire InterContinental Paris – Le Grand (the “Hotel”). The proposed purchase price is €330 million ($442 million1), payable in cash at completion. Constellation has made a further commitment to invest over time an estimated €60 million in future hotel renovations. The terms of the offer are such that IHG would retain a 30 year management contract on the Hotel, with three 10 year extension rights at IHG’s discretion, giving an expected contract length of 60 years. Management fees are expected to be approximately €4m ($5m1) per annum.

The Hotel, which is located in the heart of Paris overlooking the Opera House, has 470 guest rooms, including 70 suites. It first opened in 1862 and has operated under the InterContinental brand since 1982. In 2013, the Hotel generated revenues of $118m and EBIT of $22m, and as at 30 June 2014, had a net book value of $342m. Cash taxes payable on the potential transaction are not expected to exceed $5m.

Following receipt of the offer, IHG has agreed to a period of exclusivity with Constellation, and, in line with applicable French legal requirements, IHG will enter into an information and consultation period with the relevant employees’ representatives.

A further announcement will be made in due course.

Richard Solomons, Chief Executive Officer of IHG commented:

“The InterContinental Paris – Le Grand is an exceptional property and is an iconic hotel in our portfolio. This announcement demonstrates the continued successful implementation of our asset-light strategy and the strength of our relationship with Constellation, following its recent purchase of InterContinental London Park Lane and its majority investment in InterContinental New York Barclay. This potential transaction is yet another example of the enduring appeal of InterContinental as one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands.”

Notes

1 $ equivalents have been converted at current exchange rates with final $ amounts dependent on the exchange rate on the date of completion.

Solís by Capella Hotel Group recently announced the development and opening of the Solís Ubud Resort & Spa in 2017. Fresh from the debut of its first hotel in China in March (the Han Yue Lou Hotel Nanjing), this latest announcement signifies the exciting expansion of the Solís brand with further luxury hotels scheduled to open in Guangzhou, China, and Doha, Qatar (both opening in 2015). The Ubud property will be designed by Denton Corker Marshall, an award-winning international practice that has produced innovative, memorable architecture and urban design such as The Melbourne Museum and The Stonehenge Visitor Center which is located near the important World Heritage Site.“Enjoying the serenity of Ubud, the heart of Bali, with all its beautiful nature and amazing local culture is an unforgettable experience. We believe that with what this brand can offer, not to mention its famous Auriga spa, is the perfect choice to provide such memorable journey for the guests,” said Indira Hartarto, Owner, PT Mustika Adiperkasa.

“Solís Ubud has been designed to blend in seamlessly with the area’s beautiful natural surroundings,” said Horst Schulze, Chairman and CEO, Capella Hotel Group. “The focus of this property, like other Solís hotels, is to be ingrained deeply in the Balinese way of life – visitors to Ubud will be able to fully immerse themselves in such a unique experience and interact with the warm and welcoming people of Bali.”

Solís Ubud is located in the heart of the cultural center of Bali. Set amidst the idyllic rice paddy fields along the Wos River, this 108-key hotel employs a unique and poetic architecture inspired by the centuries of colorful Balinese traditional processions and celebrations. The property’s guest rooms, along with its luxurious villas and “villa-in-the-sky” residences, will showcase panoramic views and scenic riverfront experiences. Solís Ubud will also offer two uniquely-themed restaurants delivering cuisine deeply rooted in Balinese food culture and a luxurious “royal bath” spa with a holistic focus. The hotel will offer guests convenient access to Ubud’s dynamic and authentic attractions and activities which include remarkable arts and culture related activities, verdant environments and villages and unspoiled ancient sites.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to introduce its trailblazing Element brand to Basalt, Colorado. Set to open in August 2015, Element Basalt Aspen Valley is ideally situated near two of the nation’s most prestigious ski and mountain towns: Aspen and Snowmass Village. Owned by a joint venture between Silverwest Hotel Partners and Mariner Real Estate Management, the newly constructed Element hotel will offer a fresh, new option for travelers with 113 stylish, sustainable rooms and a light-filled atmosphere designed to fuel a life in balance and on the move. It will join Element Denver as the brand’s second property in Colorado. Less than 30 minutes to both Aspen and Snowmass Village, Element Basalt Aspen Valley will be located within the new Willis Town Center, the only sustainable mixed-use community in the Roaring Fork Valley. Guests will be within walking distance of the community’s shops, restaurants, residences, offices and Whole Foods Market. Situated at the gateway of the White River National Forest, the hotel will offer easy access to the area’s outdoor recreation including numerous hiking and biking trails, fly-fishing in the waters of the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Rivers and a choice of premium golf courses.

Element Basalt Aspen Valley will boast light-filled studios as well as one bedroom suites featuring a fluid design of modular furniture, swiveling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets. Rooms will also offer fully equipped kitchens and the signature Heavenly® Bed, and spa-inspired bathrooms will feature an invigorating rain shower and dual-flush toilet. Other brand signatures will include a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness center, pool and outdoor hot tub, and 626 square-foot meeting room with modular furnishings, a flexible layout and state-of-the-art technology that can be customized to meet any business or social needs. Guests can stay on the move with Element’s complimentary bikes to borrow and enjoy fun and free extras including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, the signature RISE breakfast, RELAX evening reception, and salon bar carts stocked with premium wines and beers, soft drinks and snacks, available after hours.

Grosvenor House, A JW Marriott Hotel has opened its new and exclusive Executive Lounge following a £1.4million investment.The refurbishment has moved the Lounge from the seventh floor to the ground floor of the hotel and is three times larger in size at over 340 square metres.

Stuart Bowery, General Manager says, “The Executive Lounge is expertly designed for our accomplished business and leisure travellers, available exclusively for Executive and Suite guests, as well as our eligible, valued Marriott Rewards Members. The Lounge forms part of a £7m investment this year, with the first set of newly refurbished Suites returning to inventory next month and further suites, plus two Royal Suites, opening in October.”

A flexible space with a variety of zones, a striking media wall is visible on entry to the Lounge, bringing nearby Hyde Park to life inside. Elegant and sophisticated in style, the Lounge is a space that is both relaxing and engaging, with the design (from GA Design International), inspired by the heritage of Grosvenor House and the proximity of Hyde Park.

Open daily from 06:00 – 00:00, the Lounge is operated by a dedicated Guest Relations team who will provide the highest levels of service for guests. Check in and check out is available in the Lounge as well as private shower and changing facilities to refresh. Additional services including high speed Wi-Fi, iPads, wireless printing and luggage storage.

An open plan kitchen with home-style food and beverage options is open to guests from breakfast through to Afternoon Tea and evening canapés. Snacks and refreshments are available throughout the day and a ‘Grab-and-Go’ station is on hand for those guests without time to spare.

Claridge’s is recognised as the finest art deco hotel in London. Having started life as a magnificent private house, it was established as a hotel in 1898 and quickly became a favourite of European royalty and heads of state. Much of the art deco design and features added through the 1920’s and 1930’s remains in place and has been enhanced over the years. Just before the end of the 20th century an ongoing project commenced to embark on a major design restoration that would see art deco styling increasingly evidenced throughout the hotels’ public areas and rooms. Bespoke lighting manufacturer Dernier & Hamlyn, working with interior designers Oliver Laws, has been involved in much of the work bringing in various aspects of the experience and skills they have assimilated over the company’s 126 year history to recreate light fittings that are beautiful, practical and historically accurate.

Designer Guy Oliver recently produced designs to update one of the hotel’s private dining rooms and called on Dernier & Hamlyn to use its extensive lighting archive to research appropriate styling that would be both visually stunning and complement the architectural integrity.

The lighting archive comprises thousands of drawings, photographs, patterns and products built up since the company was formed in London in 1888. It’s a fascinating insight into lighting over the years and is used to inform the manufacture, replication and repair of all sorts of lights. It even contains watercolours that were the CAD renders of their time. Beautiful to look at, they are a reminder of the painstaking way in which images had to be repeatedly drawn and redrawn until clients’ requirements were met before the advent of computers in the design process. A thorough trawl through materials from the 1930’s by Dernier & Hamlyn’s Jeremy Quantrill unearthed this gorgeous pendant priced at the princely sum of £44 in 1935.

Guy Oliver was thrilled by this unique find and specified that the new pendants which this photograph inspired should be cast in solid brass, hand finished in bronze and completed with white opal glass. Additional flourishes and geometric layers were added to emphasise the styling of the period and the final flourish was the use of antique metal chains to fix it to the ceiling, which were reclaimed from a shipyard to give added authenticity.

The results are wonderful with tungsten lamps softly spreading light from inside the fitting and halogen downlighters providing practical light levels beneath.

Inspired by the newel posts spotted on the magnificent staircases at another 1930’s inspired site, Guy Oliver also recently designed these pedestal lamps that sit atop the marble bars in Claridge’s bar. They feature strong, streamlined shapes, typical of this glamorous epoch including chevrons finished in polished nickel to emulate the desire for shiny materials akin to chrome a brand new material of the time.

Guy Oliver says: “My relationship with Claridge’s goes back over 20 years and I never tire of wandering its private rooms and public areas, considering what could have occurred there in the past and how I can help to recreate that mystery and ambience with appropriate contemporary historically inspired additions.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the continued expansion of its Hotel Indigo® brand in top-tier markets across the United States, with nine signings in the first seven months of 2014. The hotels will be located from the East Coast to the West Coast in cities known for having unique neighborhoods with an interesting story to tell that fit with the Hotel Indigo boutique offering: Seattle; Baltimore; Austin and El Paso, Texas; Orange Beach and Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Gainesville, Fla., and two hotels in Atlanta, where the brand was founded. These signings are in addition to recent agreements signed in late 2013 for hotels in New York City, Miami and Philadelphia. The Hotel Indigo global pipeline now stands at 56 hotels, with 28 of those hotels in the Americas, following the latest addition to the portfolio, the Hotel Indigo Cleveland-Beachwood hotel, which opened in July. The hotels signed this year are expected to open in 2015 and 2016 and are a mixture of new builds and conversions. Because there is no prototypical design for the Hotel Indigo brand, the concept works well for conversions, adaptive re-use projects, mixed-use developments and new-build hotels. This flexibility is attractive to owners and developers, particularly those who want to diversify their hotel portfolio or enter the hotel industry for the first time.

“We were first to market with a branded boutique hotel brand when we launched Hotel Indigo here in the U.S. ten years ago. Our flexible approach to development has greatly contributed to the successful growth of the brand, and we now have 58 hotels open around the world,” said Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG. “Because we don’t have a standard design, many owners look at the Hotel Indigo brand as a creative option for their real estate assets. In fact, these new signings include the conversions of an office building in Atlanta and the historic Blue Horizon boxing venue in Philadelphia, as well as a dual-branded development with IHG’s Holiday Inn Express brand in Austin, Texas.”

Every Hotel Indigo hotel is uniquely designed to reflect the culture, character and history of the surrounding neighborhood. No two hotels are the same. Each hotel’s neighborhood story is woven throughout the guest experience, from the locally sourced food and drinks served in the restaurant and bar, to the art, photography and architecture incorporated into the hotel’s design.

“The Hotel Indigo growth strategy is focused on opening hotels in neighborhoods that have an undiscovered story to tell,” said Mary Winslow, director, Americas Brand Management, Hotel Indigo. “From the underground cultural clubs of 19th-century Baltimore to the modern mosaic of characters and culture in Miami, our hotels will connect guests to these vibrant and unique neighborhoods in a way that no other boutique hotel brand does.”

The Hotel Indigo brand provides a refreshingly local experience for guests who want to experience something unique and different when they travel. Guestrooms at Hotel Indigo hotels feature plush bedding, hard-surface flooring with area rugs, and spa-inspired bathrooms. Guests and locals enjoy a great neighborhood bar with seasonal and locally sourced food in a stylish environment, and relationships with local vendors like coffee roasters and breweries bring a taste of the neighborhood into the hotel for guests.

The new hotels will feature the brand’s Neighborhood Guide, an innovative touchscreen display that connects guests to each other, the local neighborhood and to Hotel Indigo locations around the world. Hotel team members, many of whom are locals themselves, will share their favorite hidden gems with guests looking to explore and discover the neighborhood.

The Hotel Indigo brand is also experiencing strong global growth, with recent openings in three major European cities, Hotel Indigo St. Petersburg Tchaikovskogo, Hotel Indigo Madrid Gran Via and Hotel Indigo Rome St. George, and additional openings in Paris and Bangkok expected by the end of 2014.

Leading activity holiday specialist, Neilson, has announced the addition of the Neilson Hotel Del Clos in El Tarter, Andorra to its winter 2014/2015 ski portfolio. Exclusive to Neilson, the hotel is now on sale and opens its doors to the first guests on 21 December 2014. The property – which is to be managed and operated by the Neilson hospitality team – sits just 300m from the resort centre and main ski lifts. Prices start from as little as £588 per person per week, including flights, transfers and half board accommodation. Its fabulous location in the small village of El Tarter, a mile from Soldeu, provides a gateway to the Grandvalira ski area with an impressive 210km of well-groomed and varied slopes to explore. The spacious twin, triple and four-bedded rooms – most with spectacular mountain views – ensure the ideal base for families, groups of friends or couples looking for a sociable ski experience.

Boasting superb children’s facilities including three Neilson-run children’s clubs, a games and TV room and a snow garden at the hotel itself, plus use of a slopeside kids’ chalet with plenty of space for indoor and outdoor snow fun, the new Neilson hotel is set to become a firm favourite with families.

In addition to the fantastic facilities for families, the Neilson Hotel Del Clos also offers a snug lounge with comfy seating and a large log fire plus a large south-facing sun terrace outside après bar offering breathtaking views over El Tarter’s valleys. After a day on the piste, guests can also book in for a sports massage at the hotel’s treatment room, or enjoy complimentary use of the indoor pool, hot tub and steam room at the nearby Hotel Nordic.

Pete Tyler, managing director at Neilson commented: “We are delighted to introduce the Neilson Hotel Del Clos to our ski portfolio this winter and are particularly pleased to be expanding in Andorra. We are currently the biggest UK operator in the resort and so really feel that our guests can immerse themselves in a true Neilson holiday experience, complete with top-class accommodation and our renowned service.”

“The Neilson Hotel Del Clos is a great property for beginners and families and we particularly look forward to welcoming guests who already enjoy our summer Beachclub offering and are looking for a similar product in the mountains.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced it has expanded its resorts portfolio with the opening of Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji. Owned by local Fijian proprietary company, Ritam Investments Ltd, part of the P Meghji Group, the previously independent resort underwent an extensive $18.5 million renovation and conversion project prior to raising the Sheraton flag. The debut of Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji, marks the Sheraton brand’s eighth property in the Pacific region and Starwood’s fourth operating property in Fiji, joining Sheraton Fiji Resort, Sheraton Denarau Villas and The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa. Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji, is situated on a 35-acre beachfront property in the south-western corner of Tokoriki Island, the northernmost island within Fiji’s idyllic Mamanuca group. Guests can reach the island via a 12-minute helicopter flight from Nadi or a one-hour boat ride. Fiji is the most easily accessible Pacific island nation and serviced by a number of carriers including Fiji Airways, with direct flights to Nadi out of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Auckland, Los Angeles, Seoul and Hong Kong.

As one of Fiji’s largest high-caliber island resorts, Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji, will feature a total of 101 guestrooms and suites, including 30 Tokoriki Retreats with private plunge pools. Additionally, the resort will offer 14 Beachfront Rooms, 14 Ocean Breeze Rooms, 18 Ocean View Rooms, seven Family Suites and 18 Island Breeze rooms. All guestrooms have been fully renovated and outfitted with the brand’s renowned Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed, high-speed internet and 40-inch flat panel televisions.

The refurbished lobby features the signature “Link@Sheraton® experienced with Microsoft®” – a relaxed space with complimentary wireless broadband where guests can socialize and connect with friends, both old and new. On-site recreational facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, tennis courts, kids club, two boutiques, a theater accommodating up to 50 guests, and a contemporary spa with four serene treatment rooms and a wide range of relaxation packages.

Award-winning chef and restaurateur, Peter Kuruvita brings his signature brand, Flying Fish, to Sheraton Resort & Spa Tokoriki Island, Fiji. Head Chef Kim Brennan has leveraged his culinary expertise to create an enticing menu of fresh, sumptuous Fijian seafood enhanced by fresh, local produce. The Flying Fish Tokoriki will appeal to both guests and locals with its inviting ambiance and breathtaking views of the South Pacific.

An ideal choice for meetings, weddings and functions, Sheraton Resort & Spa, Tokoriki Island, Fiji, offers state-of-the-art conference, business and meeting facilities. The resort’s redeveloped function area and beachfront landscape provides a relaxing and scenic venue for a world-class meeting or event for up to 140 guests.

June Highlights
• Abu Dhabi hotel profits rise 11.8% in the first half of 2014
• Corporate and conference demand drives TRevPAR growth in Jeddah
• Doha hotels record a 20.8% surge in RevPAR in June
• Sharm El Sheikh hotels see profits fall 49.2% during the 6 months to June
• Cairo hotels show signs of recovery as average room rates rise in June

Carlson Rezidor, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel companies worldwide, announces two new hotels in Poland: The Radisson Blu Resort, Świnoujscie (340 rooms) and the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences, Zakopane (158 rooms & 68 apartments) are scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2016. With these signings, Carlson Rezidor grow their total portfolio in Poland to ten hotels with almost 2,400 rooms in operation and under development.”Radisson Blu is Europe’s largest upper upscale brand, and we are delighted to further strengthen its presence in Poland together with established national partners”, said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor. ”Both new hotels will be great additions to our growing portfolio of stylish and contemporary Radisson Blu resorts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa”, added Neumann.

The Radisson Blu Resort, Świnoujscie will enjoy a prime location along the seaside of Świnoujscie, a popular Baltic Sea tourist destination bordering Germany and featuring Poland’s widest beach. The 5 star flagship hotel will get its own promenade and be the most prominent resort development in the area (benefitting from EU funding through the initiative JESSICA, Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas). Almost all 340 guest rooms and suites will offer sea views and own balconies, and all will comprise Radisson Blu signature services such as free high speed internet access.

Besides an all day dining restaurant, the property will also offer a fine dining venue, a panoramic café on the 14th floor, and a lobby bar. The inifnity edge pool and a bar with terrace on the rooftop will be an extraordinary attraction. Leisure facilities will include a gym, fitness area and a club with bowling. Guests will also be able to use external offers such as a Water Park, further sauna, bath and wellness areas, a climbing wall, kids playroom area and retail outlets & shops. All facilities will be located within the famous Baltic Park Molo complex. For business travellers, the Radisson Blu Resort, Świnoujscie will have a ballroom of 1,000 sqm – dividable into smaller conference rooms.

”We already have six independent premium hotels on the Polish coast and in the mountains, but we are sure that the Radisson Blu Resort, Świnoujście will be our best offer due to its modern design and the brand’s expertise”, said Jan Wróblewski, Board Member of the hotel’s owner and developer Zdrojowa Invest.

The Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences Zakopane will be located in the well-known Polish resort Zakopane in the Carpathian mountains, 100 km away from Krakow. The region attracts guests in winter and summer for skiing, hiking, mountain biking and wellness holidays. Besides 158 guest rooms, the hotel will offer 68 apartments in a separate part of the complex; linked via a fully integrated walkway.

All guests will enjoy an all day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, and three bars. After an exciting day outdoors, the hotel’s large wellness & spa centre on two storeys and with a total surface of 1,200 sqm will pamper body & soul. It will include a 20 m indoor pool, saunas, steam baths and a Medi-Spa skin care center. With a state-of-the-art meeting & events concept, the hotel will also attract business travellers and offer a conference area with more than 350m² and a 375 sqm ballroom.

Avenue Sales and Marketing are pleased to announce an exciting new addition to their portfolio.Buddha–Bar, Budapest, Hungary is an historical building originally built in 1899.

Klotild Palace is located on the walking street of central Budapest just a short stroll from the River Danube on the Pest side.

BAGNODESIGN, the home of creative bathroom solutions, will soon complete supply on a one-of-a-kind project located in Cultural Village, Dubai Creek. Palazzo Versace, one of Dubai’s fashion-branded hotels, reflects the vision and creativity of Gianni Versace S.p.A. along with a commitment to excellence in design and fine workmanship – a commitment that is shared by BAGNODESIGN. Situated in a spectacular waterfront setting, the Palazzo Versace project comprises of luxury condominiums on one side with the lavishly designed hotel on the other. BAGNODESIGN, together with a number of its reputable global partners, was responsible for supplying all the bathroom spaces and worked closely with the designers from the project’s inception.

The bedrooms and suites in this most luxurious of hotels are described as ‘a personal lifestyle experience enhanced with luxury and technology’, featuring open plan bathrooms with couple sized spa bath and Palazzo Versace amenities to spoil guests.

From sanitaryware and mixers to showers, baths and accessories, BAGNODESIGN’s quality range of bathroom products offered the perfect fit for the property – an exuberant building of classical proportions. The overall sanitaryware package is a reflection of design and quality worthy of this prestigious development, which is surely destined to become a Dubai design icon.

After much anticipation, the finalists of the European Hotel Design Awards have been announced, revealing an exciting diversity of talent across all hotel sectors. They are as follows:European Hotel Design Awards 2014: Finalists

Architecture – Adaptive Re-use
25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin, Germany, by Hild und K Architekten
Fontevraud L’Hôtel, France, by Gabor Mester de Parajd
Qbic Hotel London City, UK, by March & White
The Inn at John O’Groats, UK, by GLM
Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, by OeverZaaijer Architecture & Urbanism

Architecture – Newbuild
Hotel The Passage, Basel, Switzerland, by Lorenz Wyss
Ibis Edinburgh Centre South Bridge, UK, by Ica
Lanserhof Tegernsee, Marienstein, Germany, by Ingenhoven Architects
Seehotel Enzian, Weissensee, Austria, by XLGD Architectures
The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland, by Denniston

Architecture – Renovation
Ace Hotel London, UK, by EPR Architects
Aman Canal Grande, Venice, Italy, by Denniston
Parkhotel Holzner, Oberboson, Italy, by Bergmeisterwolf Architekten / Künstler Manfred Alois Mayr
Rosewood London, UK by EPR, Architects
The Hotel Brussels, Belgium, by GCA Arquitectos

Interior Design – Bar
Carve Bar at W Verbier, Switzerland, by concrete
Ham Yard Hotel London, UK, by Kit Kemp
L’iBar at Fontevraud L’Hôtel, France, by Jouin Manku
Monkey Bar at 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin, Germany by Studio Aisslinger
Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London, UK, by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio

Interior Design – Bedrooms & Bathrooms
Aman Canal Grande, Venice, Italy, by Denniston
Ham Yard Hotel, London, UK, by Kit Kemp
Rosewood London, UK, by Tony Chi & Associates
The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland, by Denniston
The Guest House Vienna, Austria, by Conran & Partners

Interior Design – Cafe Bar or All Day Dining
Capricorn at InterContinental Davos, Switzerland, by Living Design
Clarion Hotel The Edge, Tromsø, Norway, by Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects
The Globe at Hilton Istanbul Bomonti, Turkey, by GA Design International
The Rosebery at Mandarin Oriental London, UK by GA Design International
Urban Meadow at Doubletree by Hilton Hyde Park, London, UK by Blacksheep

Interior Design – Lobby, Lounge & Public Areas
Aman Canal Grande, Venice, Italy, by Denniston
Generator Barcelona, Spain, by DesignAgency
Generator Venice, Italy, by DesignAgency
Palazzo Parigi, Milan, Italy, by Pierre-Yves Rochon
The London EDITION, UK, by Yabu Pushelberg in collaboration with I.S.C Design Studio

Interior Design – Restaurant
Berners Tavern and Punch Room at The London EDITION, UK, by Yabu Pushelberg in collaboration with I.S.C Design Studio
Gotthard’s Restaurant at Stora Hotellet, Umeâ, Sweden, by Stylt Trampoli
Ham Yard Hotel, London, UK, by Kit Kemp
Brasserie Les Haras at Hotel Les Haras, Strasbourg, France, by Jouin Manku
NENI at 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin, Germany, by Studio Aisslinger

Interior Design – Spa & Wellness
AWAY spa at W Verbier, Switzerland, by concrete
Eforea Spa at Hilton Istanbul Bomonti, Turkey, by GA Design International
House Spa at Dormy House Hotel, Worcestershire, UK, by Sparcstudio
Lanserhof Tegernsee Marienstein, Germany, by Ingenhoven Architects
The Chedi Andermatt, Switzerland, by Denniston

Interior Design – Suite
The Barcelona Suite at The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, Spain, by Patricia Urquiola
The Manor House Suite at Rosewood, London, UK, by Tony Chi & Associates
The Palais Royal Suite at Grand Hotel du Palais Royal, Paris, France, by Pierre-Yves Rochon
The Suites at Aman Canal Grande, Venice, Italy, by Denniston
The Suites InterContinental Davos, Switzerland, by Living Design

The winners will be announced on 25 November during a dinner at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge in London, expected to be Europe’s largest single gathering of the sector’s celebrities and influencers.

Internationally acclaimed as the leading pan-European competition to focus on excellence in hotel architecture and design, the European Hotel Design Awards are organised by Sleeper Magazine and attract the hospitality industry’s brightest stars competing in a variety of categories.

“The overall quality of entries for this year’s European Hotel Design Awards was the highest I have seen in ten years on the judging panel,” says Matt Turner, Editor-in-Chief of Sleeper Magazine. “The voting to select the final five in each category was very close and the shortlisted entries can all be proud to have made it this far. The shortlist demonstrates the diversity of today’s hotel industry and the talent of the designers and architects who play such an important role in enhancing the guest experience for their clients. And for design practices that didn’t make the shortlist, there is still the chance to win a European Hotel Design Award by entering this year’s Tomorrow’s Hotel competition, which is now open for entries.”

For more information visit: www.europeanhoteldesignawards.com

Protea have long had an hotel in a converted prison in the heart of Cape Town’s waterfront. Sharing it in part with Cape Town’s internationally reputable Business School has given a steady flow of business customers, but the recent refurbishment has seen this hotel redeveloped into a stunning destination hotel for families, with some sensitive additions that are already showing signs of increasing its popularity.Hidden behind high walls the former prison is a strange mix of buildings but it is mainly focussed around the old cell blocks. Ample parking and space within the walls create a green and relatively quiet area on the busy edge of the V&A waterfront development. Entrance into the hotel belies the size of the property.

Tardis like, the small reception space flows through to a series of buildings ranging from cell blocks and punishment areas marked with nineteenth century graffiti to modern bedroom blocks. Unique amongst hotels I have visited is not the use of the cells as small meeting rooms and study areas, but the inclusion of the punishment block and its treadmill – not used, despite my mischievous suggestion, to punish misbehaving guests.

Although not actually in the Waterfront itself, its position is a flight of steps and a road away. This insulates it from the noise of the tourists, buskers, hawkers and the rest of the hubbub that makes the boisterous Waterfront atmosphere.

Marriott Hotels has opened its first hotel in Kazakhstan. Located next to the iconic Bayterek monument in the city’s vibrant business, shopping and entertainment district, the 271-room Astana Marriott Hotel is a contemporary retreat for travellers to Astana. The hotel represents the fifth Marriott International property in Kazakhstan and is managed by an affiliate of U.S. based Interstate Hotels & Resorts.The five-star hotel features distinctive and contemporary interior design marrying neutral colours, clean lines and luxurious marble with traditional Kazakhstan artwork. The sense of place continues throughout the guestrooms with headboard designs featuring a traditional Kazakhstan motif that reflects the country’s love of pattern. The bathroom artwork is of brightly coloured silks, a reference to Kazakhstan’s historical links to the ancient trading Silk Route.

The hotel offers three diverse dining options: Vista Bar & Lounge, Aroma restaurant and the Lobby Bar. A destination in its own right, the chic Vista Bar & Lounge located on the 27th floor is a place for guests and locals to enjoy sharing plates of fusion European and Asian cuisine while taking in uninterrupted views of Astana. Aroma restaurant specialises in seasonal dishes of grilled meat and fish and a selection of French and Kazakh specialties created by Benoit Letellier, Executive Chef of the hotel. The Lobby Bar is the focal point of the hotel and open throughout the day for meeting, socialising or working and offering drinks and light bites.

For meetings and events, the hotel has three meeting rooms and a Grand Ballroom divisible by three which can accommodate 230 people. Meeting planners can take advantage of two digital services from Marriott Hotels to enhance their meeting or event experience: Meetings Imagined, a digital platform allowing users to design the entire look and feel of an event from a desktop, tablet or mobile device, and Red Coat Direct, which enables meeting requests to be edited with a touch of a button without leaving the meeting room.

The hotel also offers mobile check-in, enabling Marriott Rewards guests to check in quickly and conveniently via their smartphones. Additional hotel facilities include a business centre, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and a health club with well-equipped gym, indoor pool, sauna, and steam rooms.

Guests at Astana Marriott Hotel can earn points for their stay towards free holidays, flights, room nights and more through Marriott Rewards, an award-winning frequent traveller programme with over 45 million members worldwide offering exclusive membership privileges across 16 brands, 3,800 destinations and 72 countries.

This stylishly smooth dolly switch is the latest addition to Focus SB’s Morpheus range of screwless switches and sockets, adding a sleek and minimal touch to your projects.Available in one, two, three and four gang switch plates and in all of our stunning finishes.

Matching sockets and Bespoke plates are also available. Visit our website or call us today on +44 (0) 1424 858060 for further details on any of our ranges or services.

See us at 100% Design 17 – 20th September, Earls Court, London; stand E222.

Helping to maximise hygiene levels in the bathroom or washroom, Roca has introduced a wall-hung version of its innovative CleanRim The Gap WC. With a close-coupled WC already available, this new model means that not only is the pan itself simple to clean thanks to its rimless design, but the floor beneath and area surrounding the WC can also be wiped clean with ease. With the CleanRim The Gap wall-hung WC there is simply nowhere for germs or bacteria to gather, while the WC’s hidden fixations create an uncluttered, streamlined finish in any bathroom setting.

Designed by Antonio Bullo, CleanRim The Gap WC from Roca features modern and stylish lines, and is the latest product in the popular collection of basins, WCs, furniture and baths.

This latest addition to The Gap collection from Roca is not only a hygienic option for domestic and commercial situations, but it also helps reduce water wastage too, as the wall-hung version can be combined with dual-flush cisterns that flush at 4.5 and 3 litres of water, including Roca’s Duplo-N concealed cisterns.

While less water is used than with a standard single or dual-flush WC, CleanRim The Gap always produces a powerful flushing performance thanks to innovative technology neatly hidden behind the scenes. With CleanRim The Gap, water is delivered via a distributor at the back of the pan, rather than through the holes like on a standard toilet. This enables the flushing volume to be reduced while always producing outstanding flushing results.

With a sleek design on the outside and the latest innovations maximising hygiene levels on the inside, Roca’s CleanRim The Gap wall-hung WC is the ideal solution for commercial and domestic situations.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that its trailblazing Element brand is headed to Syracuse, New York. Element Syracuse Inner Harbor will open in early 2018 as part of a massive waterfront redevelopment project along the former Barge Canal. Element Syracuse Inner Harbor will be located adjacent to Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor, which is set to open in 2015. Both hotels are owned and developed by COR Development Company, LLC, and will be managed by Real Hospitality Group. The hotel will be a short walk to Destiny USA Center, a major shopping and entertainment destination with more than 1.3 million square feet of outlets, restaurants and retail stores. Guests will enjoy easy access to nearby attractions including Armory Square – a historic and refurbished area of the city containing shops and restaurants, the Everson Museum of Art, the Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology and Washington Square Park. The hotel will be just over one mile from downtown Syracuse, approximately two miles from both Syracuse University and SUNY Upstate Medical University, and close to the offices of Lockheed Martin and AXA Financial.

Element Syracuse Inner Harbor will boast 123 stylish, sustainable rooms and suites featuring a fluid design of modular furniture, swiveling flat-screen televisions, large desks with open shelving and custom-designed closets. Rooms will also offer fully equipped kitchens and the signature Heavenly® Bed, and spa-inspired bathrooms will feature an invigorating rain shower and dual-flush toilet. Other brand signatures will include a state-of-the-art, 24-hour fitness center, outdoor pool, and 750 square-foot meeting room with modular furnishings, a flexible layout and state-of-the-art technology that can be customized to meet any business or social needs. Guests can stay on the move with Element’s complimentary bikes to borrow and enjoy fun and free extras including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, the signature RISE breakfast, RELAX evening reception, and salon bar carts stocked with premium wines and beers, soft drinks and snacks, available after hours.

Kempinski began its management contract for Kempinski Hotel Fleuve Congo on August 1, 2014 following the signing of an eleven-year management agreement in Geneva in January. Named after Africa’s largest river, the hotel is located near its banks in the heart of the embassy district in the Commune of Gombe. The hotel’s 22 floors offer elevated views over the Congo River, and the capital cities of Kinshasa and neighbouring Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, which sit on opposite sides of the river. The tallest building in the Gombe area, the property was originally designed for offices and was beautifully transformed into a luxury hotel in 2012.

The hotel’s 237 contemporary rooms – including 42 suites, are now available for booking on Kempinski.com. Three speciality restaurants, four bars, and five meeting and events spaces, including an auditorium with seating for 250 attendees, provide ample space for entertaining large groups and conferences. Guests have access to three boutiques and a florist conveniently located in the lobby. Leisure facilities include two floodlit outdoor tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, and billiard and snooker rooms. The extensive landscaped grounds provide a welcome respite from the busy city life of Africa’s third-largest city, and a full-service spa is being designed for the hotel.

The hotel is ideal for business travellers and groups looking for five-star luxury in close proximity to the country’s principal governing bodies, diplomatic and media organizations, and international corporations located in the Gombe area. With a full range of leisure facilities available at the hotel and Kinshasa’s 18-hole golf course a mere five minutes away, Kempinski Hotel Fleuve Congo is also ideal for visitors and Kinshasa residents looking for a place to relax and enjoy five-star luxury.

Kempinski Hotels currently operates 74 hotels in 31 countries and has 40 hotels under development worldwide. President and CEO of Kempinski Hotels, Mr. Reto Wittwer said that following the company’s successful expansion into the Middle East and China over the past twenty years, Kempinski expects its growing portfolio across the African continent to become a major source of revenue for the company, as well as provide new sources of talent and for further talent development across the company.

Speaking about the new management agreement Mr. Wittwer stated, “Signing the agreement for Kempinski Hotel Fleuve Congo was part of our plan for expansion in Africa over the next few years. By partnering with key players on the continent to secure the best locations for our luxury properties we will continue to be the pioneer of luxury hospitality in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our distinct brand of European luxury and operational know-how makes us a leader in all the markets we operate in, and we expect that our new property here in Kinshasa will be no different.”

On selecting Kempinski as the management company for his hotel, owner Mr. Mao Huai Cong said, “I chose to invest in Kinshasa because of the growth and economic potential I see in the country. I chose Kempinski Hotels to manage my hotel because of their reputation as leaders in the luxury hospitality sector. I expect Kempinski to put its management knowledge to work so that I can get a good return on my investment and to ensure that Kempinski Hotel Fleuve Congo is the top hotel in the DRC and known for its impeccable service.”

New for August 2014, what could be more relaxing than showering under an invigorating spray of sparkling water with light dancing off the drops as they fall? Crosswater has made the dream come true with Dynamo, an innovative new shower head that incorporates LED lighting to illuminate your shower.The head is a polished 300mm half dome with LED lights around the edge. The LEDs are powered purely by the force of the water so there is no need for connection to the mains, avoiding the need for compliance with the IP regulations. It is designed for wall or ceiling mounting and can be combined with any Crosswater concealed high pressure shower valve.

“Introducing lights to a showerhead adds a real dynamic,” says Crosswater Chairman David Hance. “The technology used to create the Dynamo head makes achieving the effect safe and simple – and reduces the cost of installation as there is no need to employ a Part P compliant electrician to do the job. Dynamo is a stunning feature in any walk in shower or enclosure.”

UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and the French Minister of State in charge of Tourism, Fleur Pellerin, met to discuss the new tourism strategy of France as well as how to further strengthen the collaboration with UNWTO. Issues on the agenda included visa facilitation, taxation and the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (Paris, 30 June 2014).Mr. Rifai commended the decision of France to place tourism as a national ‘cause’ and welcomed the 30 measures recently announced by the Government to promote the competitiveness of the sector, in particular the visa facilitation measures. These include, among other, the extension of the ‘visas in 48 hours’ initiative, launched in China in early 2014, to several Gulf countries, South Africa and India. Ms. Pellerin explained that the measure had translated into an exponential growth in the number of visas issued in the Chinese market from 30 to 250%.

“The call by President Hollande to place tourism as a national cause clearly shows the value that is awarded to the sector in France as a means to create jobs and improve the balance of payments”, said Mr Rifai. “France is a tourism leader, the most visited destination in the world, and is aware that keeping such position in today’s competitive market requires strong cross-cutting policies that support the sector. At UNWTO we particularly welcome the measures adopted by France to promote visa facilitation, one of our priorities, as we trust that, as our research shows, these measures yield significant return in terms of economic growth and job creation”, he added.

Further issues on the agenda included tourism taxation and the integration of tourism under the portfolio of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, a decision welcomed by UNWTO as it provides an opportunity to advance key issues such as travel facilitation and the inclusion of tourism in the international trade agenda. On the issue of taxation, Mr Rifai recalled UNWTO position on the importance of evaluating the global impact on the economy of any changes in tourism taxation and welcomed the fact that a possible raise of tourism taxes in France currently under discussion is being seriously debated considering such impact.

On the occasion of his visit to France, Mr Rifai addressed the 3rd Parliamentarian Meeting on Tourism (3e Rencontres Parlementaires sur le Tourisme: Et si le redressement passait par le tourisme?) highlighting the role of the sector in accelerating the economic recovery in Europe.

Useful links:
Full speech by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai (in English)

The brand is rolling out a large-scale international communication campaign with an all-new angle on the hospitality experience.As you will probably remember, Pullman announced its global repositioning strategy a year ago, and one of the big breakthroughs back then was an advertising campaign featuring the brand hotel and resort spirit and design, which we created with the DDB Group.

Then, artwork by British photographer Nick Meek and a new tagline – Design Your Journey – enhanced this project’s distinctive identity.

Design Your Journey, all around the world
Today, Pullman is unveiling its new identity worldwide. The advertising campaign is rolling out in top-tier newspapers and upscale magazines across Europe today. The brand is also keen on reaching out to frequent travelers, and therefore stretching its communication into leading inflight magazines including Air France Magazine and Lufthansa Magazine, as well as billboards in the main international airports including Dubai, Frankfurt, Jakarta, London, New Delhi, Paris, Riyadh and Sydney.

Essential Asia-Pacific
Asia Pacific encompasses several key feeder markets for Pullman hotels and resorts around the world, explaining why the largest share of the billboard campaign was allocated to this region in general and Asian megalopolises such as Shanghai, Singapore and Bangkok in particular. This campaign also reached trendsetting business publications such as The Wall Street Journal Asia and the Asia-Pacific Business Traveler magazine this July.

But the brand is not stopping there: in August and September, it will be presenting Pullman’s new identity in Brazilian lifestyle media. At the same time, the Pullman Sao Paulo Ibirapuera will be one of the official partners of the Design Week-end Project, which will take place in Sao Paulo from August 14th to 17th.

Light up your life after dark with these beautiful torches and lanterns from Tribu. These pieces are made using heartwood teak with toughened glass and stainless steel.Phoro torches come in three sizes – 70, 90 or 110cm (h) and use bio-oil.

Furniture featured from Tribu’s Mood range

The Rezidor Hotel Group has signed 11 new projects with almost 2,200 rooms in the second quarter of 2014. All new rooms were under fee-based contracts – supporting Rezidor’s asset-light, profitable and sustainable growth strategy in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Five signings represented upcoming hotels in Saudi Arabia, and two signings were related to Turkey – both key focus countries for Rezidor. “Due to its fast economic growth and ambitious public spending initiatives, Saudi Arabia is a powerhouse in the Middle East. We have accelerated our development in the Kingdom together with strong regional partners, and are actively seeking further growth opportunities”, commented Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor. “In Turkey, a hub between Europe and Asia, our network is equally expanding. In the mega-market Istanbul, Radisson Blu is now featuring seven hotels and 1,500 rooms and is the largest upper-upscale brand in town”, added Neumann.

In the second quarter of 2014 Rezidor opened five hotels with almost 800 rooms – among them one of Norway’s first dual-branded properties, the Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Oslo Alna. The other openings were the Radisson Blu Hotel Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel Freetown, Sierra Leone; and the Radisson Resort & Spa Zavidovo, Russia. “Also our openings underline our focus on selected key countries and the emerging markets of Africa and Russia/CIS where huge natural resources, improving infrastructure, changing demographics and increasing demand offer considerable growth potential”, said Elie Younes, Senior Vice President & Head of Group Development of Rezidor.

In the mature markets of Western Europe and the Nordics, Rezidor continued its accelerated asset management and concluded three deals in Q2 2014. The lease agreement for a key hotel in Western Europe was restructured and will result in a € 300,000 increase of Rezidor’s annual EBITDA. In Norway, the group negotiated a 20 years extension of the management agreement for the 676 rooms flagship Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Oslo – one of the highest fee generating properties in Rezidor’s portfolio. Also the lease contract for the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ålesund was extended by 20 years.

“Such results show our continued success in upgrading our leased hotels and improving their financial performance – a core element of our Route 2015 turnaround programme”, said Wolfgang M. Neumann. Through Route 2015, Rezidor aims to reach an EBITDA margin increase of 6-8% by the year 2015. In 2013, the EBITDA margin grew by 3.3 percentage points to 8.8% and was above target. Besides dedicated asset management projects, Route 2015 comprises Revenue Generation activities, a focus on fee based growth, and cost savings.

Leading UK shower designer and manufacturer, Roman has launched hotel inspired Concealed Fix Bath Screens into their new Showroom Guide brochure. Roman has introduced some new designs to their already extensive collection of Bath Screens. These new Bath Screens have been inspired by hotel design with their practicality and style. Bath Screens used in hotels must feature intelligent opening panels to cater for the existing bathroom fixtures and fittings and provide easy access for cleaning the bath, without stepping into the bath.

The first of the new Bath Screens is the Orbital Concealed Fix Outward Opening Bath Screen, presenting a truly minimalist design with its concealed wall profile. The Concealed Bath Screen may be minimalist but it offers true water integrity with its reliable integrated ‘bath top’ seal. It incorporates one fixed panel and one outward opening panel. The clever outward opening panel stops at 90 degrees to allow for other bathroom furniture such as a sink, which is usually the case in hotel rooms. The outward opening panel also ensures easy access cleaning to the bath, bath taps and shower. Included with the Bath Screen is an optional bracing bar, which can be used to add extra support to the product.

The other new addition to Roman’s Bath Screen collection is the Orbital Concealed Fix Inward Opening Bath Screen. This inward opening Bath Screen also presents a minimal design eliminating framing, leaving a concealed fitting to the wall. It combines a fixed panel and an opening panel, the moving panel only pivots inwards, completely avoiding all other existing bathroom furniture. The inward pivoting panel again allows effortless access for cleaning the bath without being in the bath to clean it.

Both of these new Bath Screens feature 8mm thick glass, reach a height of 1500mm and are power shower approved to deliver an indulgent showering experience. Maximum water integrity is provided with these minimalist Bath Screens, with horizontal PVC seals and vertical magnetic seals and a unique ‘bath top’ aluminium seal for added water integrity included on both.
These new Orbital Bath Screens include Roman’s Ultra Care pre-coated glass protection as standard, for easier cleaning and to encourage the longer lasting sparkle and clarity of the glass. They carry Roman’s service backed Truelife Lifetime guarantee to offer complete peace of mind when purchasing a Roman product.

David Osborne, Managing Director of Roman, commented: “We are pleased to be launching our new Showroom Guide brochure including exciting new products, such as these two Concealed Fix Bath Screens. These Bath Screens are perfect for the hotel market along with smaller bathrooms that are limited by existing fixtures and fittings. The new additions to our unrivaled range of Bath Screens are minimalist and designer led, whilst also presenting an extremely competitive price.”

For those who dream of spending the night in a fairytale Castle fit for Royalty, Warwick Castle has unveiled two magnificent Tower Suites appointed with bespoke furniture and fittings in the 14th century Caesar’s Tower, rooms familiar to generations of kings, queen and noblemen. Evoking the opulence of the Victorian era, the apartments – The Peacock Suite and The Rose Suite – offer guests the first opportunity in living memory to spend the night resplendent in their own private chamber at the Castle which enjoys a wealth of Royal connections.Each Suite is located on its own private floor of the 14th century Caesar’s Tower and comprises of an opulent bed chamber replete with four-poster bed in addition to contemporary en-suite facilities. All aspects of the accommodation, including the furniture and fabrics, have been designed and created specifically for this exceptional location and to compliment the mediaeval architecture which includes vaulted ceilings.

Geoff Spooner, General Manager at Warwick Castle, said: “Awakening in a hand-carved four-poster bed in a private Tower Suite is no longer a fairytale: we’re making our guests’ dreams come true whilst remaining faithful to the heritage of the Castle by ensuring the Suites are furnished with bespoke crafted items that resonate with their fully-restored surroundings. Spending the night in a Tower Suite will be a magical experience, memorable for years to come.”

Warwick Castle has provided generations of aristocracy and Royalty – including Anne Neville, the wife of Richard III, and the Earls of Warwick – with a comfortable home, while other notable guests over the centuries include Henry V, Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria. The rooms that have been restored to become the Tower Suites housed Edward IV during his enforced stay at the Castle in 1469, part of a plot by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick to rule England. Most recently HRH The Prince of Wales visited the Castle in June 2014 to mark its 1,100th anniversary and enjoy Afternoon Tea in The State Dining Room.

The Castle, commanding an enviable position on the banks of the River Avon, is located at the heart of historic Warwick, a county town renowned for its mediaeval architecture and proximity to the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Marriott International, Inc. announces the opening of the second Courtyard branded property in the Island of the Gods, Courtyard by Marriott Bali Seminyak. Located in the heart of bustling Seminyak, the 290-room hotel is an exciting addition to the Courtyard brand – making it the 31st Courtyard hotel in Asia.Located only a stones throw away from famous Seminyak Beach and the Oberoi dining scene, the stylish rooms and suites come complete with their own private balcony or garden terrace, a 42” smart TV, comfortable working desk with chair, iPod dock, and modern amenities. Suites offer extra space with their own living room and dining area, along with the convenience of having connecting doors to another deluxe room, perfect for family holidays.

This urban resort offers a little oasis in the middle of busy Seminyak with facilities including an expansive lagoon pool, Kids Club, a 24-hour fitness centre, Zanti – The Retreat, and state of the art meeting and breakout spaces catering up to 350 people – ideal for business meetings, private functions and intimate weddings. Guests will have privilege to valet service, shuttles to and from the resort to the beach and Oberoi Eat Street and high-speed internet access throughout the hotel.

Courtyard understands business and leisure travelers, and through continuous research the brand constantly evolves to meet guests’ changing needs to make the most of their time on the road. Combining innovative technology with style and comfort, the hotel lobby features Courtyard’s signature Go Board complete with information including hotel facilities, flight schedules, nearby attractions, local map, along with current news.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts has announced the completion of an extensive multi-million dollar renovation of the Sheraton Boston Hotel. The hotel now showcases a transformed 450 deluxe guest rooms in addition to enhancements to the public areas of the hotel, most notably a new look for the hotel restaurant – Café Apropos and a new spa Green Tangerine.Located in the heart of downtown, the Sheraton Boston offers easy access to the nearby boutiques of Newbury Street and is focused on providing guests with a comfortable, dynamic and enjoyable stay. With this in mind, the deluxe guestrooms feature new lighting, window treatments, artwork and wall coverings that offer a relaxing and refined ambiance. Renovations also include a refreshed lobby with new comfortable inviting furniture in two seating areas. On June 16th the hotel is opening Green Tangerine Spa, a 5,500 square foot full service spa. Once open, the Sheraton Boston will be the only Starwood Convention Collection Hotel in the U.S. to offer this service.

One of the most impactful changes is the opening of the newly renovated Café Apropos. This stylish downtown restaurant presents American cuisine in a transformed and energetic atmosphere. The culinary team, led by Executive Chef Chad Kennedy, provide an extraordinary dining experience for guests in this new space that features an interactive Chef’s Kitchen.

At the heart of the transformed lobby, guests will enjoy the signature Link@Sheraton(R) experienced with Microsoft®” – a relaxed space with complimentary wireless broadband where guests can socialize and connect with friends, both old and new. All guest rooms offer the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed, designed to meet AAA’s Five Diamond Award® criteria, an oversized work desk, ergonomic chair, high-speed Internet and 42-inch flat panel television. Sheraton Club guests enjoy upgraded amenities, as well as complimentary breakfast, beverages and evening hors d’oeuvres in the Sheraton Club Lounge.

An ideal choice for business meetings, weddings and social functions, Sheraton Boston Hotel features 70,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and function space.

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts today expanded its luxury portfolio in China with the unveiling of the highly anticipated 416-room JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou in Henan Province. Marriott International manages this landmark hotel under a long-term agreement with the owner partners, Greenland Group.This new hotel is located on the top floors of the Millennium Royal Plaza, which is in the CBD of Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan Province as well as an important transportation hub in China. The 60-floor Millennium Royal Plaza stands at 280 meters and is the tallest building in Central China. The JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou is the first Marriott property in Henan as well as the seventh JW Marriott hotel in the Greater China region.

The design of Millennium Royal Plaza was inspired by the Songyue Pagoda, a renowned cultural relic that was built approximately 1,500 years ago. The aluminium exterior’s sunscreens give the structure its distinctive pagoda-shape. The sunscreens also maximize the amount of daylight entering the building while reducing glare and solar heat gain. The hotel’s interior design reflects the hotel’s location with subtle brown metal celebrating the historic importance of bronze, and pale greens representing high quality jade artefacts that were produced in the region throughout the dynasties.

Zhengzhou is an important transportation hub within China and Henan has a rich 5,000-year history. The city boasts several UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the world famous Shaolin Temple. The new hotel is ideally located in the heart of Zhengdong New District – the new centre of Zhengzhou – and is positioned between the Zhengzhou International Convention & Exhibition Centre and Henan Art Centre. Due to its impressive location, the JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou is well poised to service both the upscale business and leisure travellers.

The new property features a total 416 of spacious guestrooms and suites located from the 41st to the 55th floor, each offering floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the city. All guestrooms feature luxurious JW Marriott bedding designed in collaboration with Todd-Avery Lenahan and ergonomic work spaces that foster convenience and productivity.

The hotel’s dining experiences on the 38th and 39th floors include The Grill,specializing in both Chinese and Western dishes made from the freshest seafood and finest cuts of beef; Man Ho, headed up by Executive Chef Wong from Hong Kong and featuring Cantonese classics as well as Henan and Sichuan delicacies; and Zhengzhou Kitchen, the best buffet in town boasting dedicated Western, Chinese and Japanese live-cooking sections. The Lounge – borrowing inspiration from the building’s height – features the “tallest tea” in the city, a four-tier stand filled with delectable treats.

The JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou offers more than 2,500 square meters of stunning function and event space, including the 1,000 square meter JW Grand Ballroom with an LED wall panel, six meeting rooms – each with natural daylight – and a spacious pre-function ballroom foyer.

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has endorsed the fifth phase of Jumeirah Beach Hotel expansion plan, which is set for completion in 2018. The masterplan vision and concept for the expansion was delivered by global architecture, urbanism and design practice Broadway Malyan. The project was undertaken on behalf of Jumeirah Group, with the practice’s expert designers in Abu Dhabi and Lisbon, Portugal, partnering closely with the client on the project.

The project will see the addition of a ultra-luxury resort to the existing Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which will comprise 350 hotel rooms with panoramic beachfront views of Burj Al Arab, dedicated new beach offering private beach experiences, recreational marine facilities that encompass spas, health clubs, elevated tennis courts, a world-class sports complex and a range of ocean-facing retail, food and beverage outlets.

The new resort will see extensive expansion of the existing yacht marina doubling its current capacity. It will also offer a variety of vibrant leisure facilities, equipped with state-of-the-art entertainment amenities.

The expansion project is in line with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s vision to strengthen Dubai as a global tourism hub and position the Emirate as the number one tourism destination worldwide. It supports the implementation of Dubai Vision 2020 to attract 20 million tourists by 2020.

Jumeirah Group, a global luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, currently manages 22 luxury hotels in over 10 countries with plans to add ten new hotels to its Dubai portfolio in the next few years.

Distinguished by its global reach with 16 studios across world centres, unrivalled diversity with 500+ design experts and distinctive client focus with over 75% income from repeat business, Broadway Malyan creates world-class and fully-integrated cities, places and buildings to unlock lasting value and deliver a ‘return on design’.

Accelerating growth in markets worldwide, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans for a dual-branded hotel development in Columbus, Ohio, featuring its popular Aloft and Element brands. Owned by Indus Hotels, the 136-room Aloft Columbus and 123-room Element Columbus will be ideally located adjacent to The Ohio State University, just minutes from downtown Columbus. Marking the début of both the Aloft and Element brands in Columbus, the hotels are slated to open in early 2017. Aloft Columbus will cater to the next generation of travellers with loft-like rooms, accessible technologies and a line-up of innovative programming. Amenities will include re:fuel by Aloft – a one-stop grab & go food and beverage area, and the W XYZ bar, which will feature local emerging artists as well as some of the hottest bands with Live at Aloft Hotels programming.

Element Columbus will offer a fresh perspective on extended stay lodging, with light-filled studios featuring a fluid design, fully equipped kitchens and spa-inspired bathrooms. Guests can stay on the move with Element’s complimentary bikes to borrow and enjoy the brand’s signature RISE breakfast and RELAX evening reception. Element is the first major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings.

Each hotel will each have its own entrance, lobby and reception area, but will share a porte-cochere and drive, large fitness centre and indoor pool, 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, and a 300-space parking garage.

Located at 1445 Olentangy River Road, Aloft and Element Columbus will be less than a quarter mile from the campus of The Ohio State University and approximately one mile from the downtown Columbus business and commercial district and the Short North neighbourhood where Starwood’s Le Méridien brand will début in January 2015. Just minutes from Port Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Ohio State Medical Centre, the hotels also offer proximity to Ohio Stadium, Nationwide Arena and Greater Columbus Convention Centre.

Aloft and Element Columbus will join several other similar developments including Aloft and Element Lexington, Aloft and Element Boston Waterfront (2016), and Aloft and Element London Tobacco Dock (2017).

At times playful and mischievous, at others dark and rocky. Brintons Skulduggery is a melting pot of graphical styles screaming with metallic, edgy, hedonistic designs each telling its own story. Drawing inspirations from music these concepts evoke graffiti and rap, heavy metal and electronica layered across in an urban, man-made theme. Binary collides with circuit boards. Geometrics meet sharp anatomical skulls.From palaces to hotels, restaurants to public buildings, convention centres to airports, over the years Brintons carpets have contributed to make the worlds’ most beautiful interiors and now, Brintons’ engineer’s invention of patented High Definition Weave, sees for the first time, the ability to weave in up to 32 colours and create stunning photorealistic effects. This state of the art technology means that Brintons continue to be the leaders in carpet design and innovation.

Looking for a bespoke service? Brintons designers can create bespoke designs to your individual brief, designing to any scale or budget. During the process you can explore the world’s largest design archives at Brintons, make full use of the ‘Design Studio Online’, receive woven samples and get the full project management experience. There is no minimum order quantity, carpets can be woven on demand.

All of this is only possible using Brintons’ High Definition Weave looms, a new level of colouration and design in carpets.

Motel One, the European budget hotel chain, is opening two new hotels this summer in its home country of Germany, following its tried and tested “great design for little money” concept.“These openings are a direct response to growing demand from discerning customers who seek affordable comfort and quality – and who know they’ll find it at Motel One,” said Ursula Schelle-Müller, Head of Marketing and Design, Motel One. “This will be our second hotel in Leipzig, and our ninth in Berlin, and we couldn’t be happier about it.”

LEIPZIG
Opening in August, the 180-room Motel One Leipzig-Augustusplatz will offer single rooms from €69 and double rooms from €79. Guests can enjoy their morning continental breakfast in the stylish and iconic One-Lounge, designed to create the homely and welcoming feel of a kitchen. On the ground floor there will be a separate One Bar, open to public and guests. The hotel is centrally located next to the Nikolaikirche, the famous 12th-century church, and just a short distance from Augustusplatz itself, home to the city’s opera house and university.

BERLIN
The Motel One Berlin Leipziger-Platz is due to open in September, offering single rooms from €79 and double rooms from €94. Built on the site of Berlin’s famous old Wertheim department store, the hotel is built into the brand new LP12 Mall of Berlin opposite the Bundesrat. The hotel will boast 239 comfortable and modern rooms as well as a stylish One Lounge. As always the design of the hotel will be unique to its location, design within the hotel will reflect the Wertheim store, the history of Leipziger Platz and the techno-club “Tresor” which was located in the former building in the 1990’s.

Motel One has 50 hotels in Germany, Austria, Belgium and the UK with around 11,540 rooms. Its goal is to grow its portfolio to 74 hotels and 18,200 rooms by 2016.

Jason Ng is a Marketing Communications Specialist at Honeywell

Few people in the twentieth century did as much as the late, great Steve Jobs – and his hugely talented chief designer Sir Jonathan Ives – to champion the importance of form and function in consumer technology. It’s fair to say that Steve and Jonathan were both a blessing and a curse on manufacturers everywhere. A blessing, because today, consumers see technology as a fashion accessory in its own right. They are willing to pay a premium for form and function; for devices that work, but also look fantastic.

When you jump on a bus or tube to leave the office, take a look around and you’ll notice that headphones are no longer just a device for listening to music. Today, they are fashion statements, labels, brands – Beats by Dr Dre, Marshall, SkullCandy – available in different colours, complete with funky designs on the earphones. Remember when headphones were just a way of listening to music?

How the world has changed.

Steve and Jonathan were also a curse though, because the success of Apple’s products – iPod, iPhone, iPad – has completely and irreversibly reshaped consumer’s expectations of mainstream personal technology. The key word there is ‘expectation’. As manufacturers, there’s no longer any place to hide. There are no more excuses left; consumers expect form and function from their technology. Thanks very much Steve…

So, what about wiring accessories? The sockets and switches that adorn pretty much every room in the world. As much as manufacturers might wish otherwise, the world of wiring accessories is not exempt from ‘form and function’. Far from it, in fact.

It’s impossible to predict the future, but one thing we can say with a degree of certainty is if consumers aren’t willing to buy a pair of headphones, MP3 player, a PC, tablet, or smartphone that just works anymore, it’s only a matter of time before they won’t buy a switch or a socket for the same reason.

Ask any hotelier and they’ll tell you that a room’s look and feel is a sum of its parts, no matter how small.

A sleek, sexy, minimalist lobby; a dark, imposing, traditional, wood-panelled dining room; a funky, kitsch, eclectic, colourful guest room, hoteliers and their interior designers work extremely hard to ensure that every last inch of a space all contributes towards the overall impact. It’s about ensuring every single building block you use – furniture, paint, skirting boards, lights, wallpaper, you name it – plays a part in creating the room – and hotel’s – individual brand.

Wiring accessories – switches, sockets – have been the anomaly for too long. Worst case, they are an eyesore that detracts from the overall impact of a space. Best case, they are designed to blend in and look as inoffensive as possible. It’s a cosy compromise that wiring accessories manufacturers have relied on for too long, and it’s a gravy train that’s chugging towards the end of the line.

As consumers increasingly come to expect form and function from their technology, wiring accessories manufacturers like ourselves must adapt or die. We have to rise to the challenge of creating something that is beautiful, stylish and a ‘feature’ in its own right. We have to build a product that can lift a space and contribute positively to a hotel’s aesthetic impact.

Targeted at hoteliers who want more from their wiring accessories, we recently launched the MK Elements Collection; a revolutionary range of stylish, design-led wiring devices, inspired by materials including wood, leather and stone. It’s our big, bold step into this brave new world.

Bar systems, sofas, chairs, tables, stools; even lighting and planters feature in this unique collection. Designed to create original combinations that adapt to every type of setting, all you need to do is to choose the colour and finish.Bringing original design to outdoor dining, bars and terrace areas the range is ergonomically designed with true Italian flair.

A huge choice of luminescent materials, chromed surfaces, matt and illuminated creations are available to customise the products.

PLUST is created by designers of international renown, brought to you in the UK by Style Matters.

Contact us now to explore the possibilities.

Accor and the Hotel Convención property have signed an agreement and plan to open the new establishment in 2016. It will be operated under a franchise contract under the Novotel brand. The hotel, which will be completely redesigned and refurbished, will be transformed into a preferred benchmark destination for international congresses. The 790-room establishment is Madrid’s third largest hotel and one of the capital’s most historical, since it opened in 1978. The future Novotel Convención Madrid is located in Calle O´Donnell, just five minutes from the Parque del Retiro, right in the center of Madrid.

Before it reopens in 2016, the building will undergo a complete refurbishment and redesign. The new hotel will meet all Novotel’s quality and modernity standards. Novelties will include new amenities such as an outdoor pool on the roof terrace, a fitness center, business floors, a children’s corner and broadband Wi-Fi. The hotel’s 2,400 m2 of meetings space will be equipped with the latest technologies, making the hotel a preferred MICE destination capable of hosting events for up to 1,500 people.

This transformation of the current offering will allow the establishment to welcome Novotel’s clientele of business and leisure travelers as well as families.

The Hotels Division of Irea Corporate Finance acted as a consultant in this operation. With the signing of this new franchise contract, the first for the Novotel brand in Spain, Accor continues to consolidate its position as Spain’s leading hotel franchisor, with 23% of its portfolio of 86 hotels operated under this type of contract in the country.

Novotel currently has three hotels in Madrid: Novotel Campo de las Naciones, Novotel Puente de la Paz and Novotel Sanchinarro.

More than just your typical promotional film, Chelsom’s brand new video not only showcases their great launch event and fantastic new collection but it conveys the true essence of what Chelsom are all about and what some of the industry’s most important clients think of them.

Chelsom Present Edition 24

Hilton Hotels & Resorts announces the opening of the Hilton Qingdao Golden Beach as the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Shandong Province, China. The resort is home to 431 spacious and stylish guest rooms, including 29 elegant suites ranging from 42-150 square meters, all with private balconies. Guest rooms feature walk-in showers, bath tubs, walk-in wardrobes, private toilets and stunning garden or ocean views, and private balconies.Five food and beverage outlets feature authentic and innovative Western, Asian and Chinese cuisines. Guests can start the day with a sumptuous breakfast prepared by talented chefs at the Strand All Day Dining restaurant, while enjoying views of the ocean and gardens. Then for lunch and dinner, authentic flavours of Shandong and Cantonese delicacies are served at Jiao Ao Restaurant, which features 20 lavish private rooms for an unforgettable dining experience. Pure Restaurant serves a variety of dishes highlighting local produce from an open kitchen. The lively ambience is further enhanced by a selection of premium wines. With its gourmet coffees, teas, signature cocktails and indulgent light bites, this is a perfect place to meet for business or relax with friends.

With a wide variety of dining options, expansive meeting facilities and accommodations featuring modern amenities, Hilton Qingdao Golden Beach is an ideal destination for both business and leisure travelers. Whether the occasion is a large international conference, exhibition or wedding, the highly trained, the dedicated team will work to ensure a successful and memorable event. The hotel features 23 flexible function spaces, including an impressive 2,100 square-meter pillar-less Grand Ballroom with an 800 square-meter pre-function area. All rooms and public areas throughout the hotel feature complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access.

Other recreational facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, a well-equipped fitness center, spa, tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course nearby. Guests can enjoy an invigorating workout and keep up with exercise regimes at the various fitness facilities onsite.

Defined by its attitude rather than its affordability, Moxy Hotels will redesign the traditional economy hotel experience, allowing guests to work, play, connect and enjoy – all in contemporary and comfortable style. With its tech-enabled rooms, buzzy lobby and friendly price point, Moxy aims to surprise budget-conscious travellers with a thoughtful, spirited and fun guest experience. Opening on 1 September 2014, the new Moxy Milan will formally introduce the youthful mindset of Moxy Hotels to the world.

Lobby
Arriving into a bright, airy lobby, guests are given a warm welcome by the crew as they enjoy a hassle free check-in experience. The interiors emulate a boutique hotel as they successfully fuse refined and raw materials, organic and linear lines, and public with private spaces. The lobby space comfortably blends colours and shapes with modern and contemporary furniture. Guests can relax in the inviting lounge space, pick up a book from the hotel library, connect to social media and catch up with friends.

The Lounge
Concrete polished floors, walls lined with intriguing art, ambient lighting and comfortable accents of colour that contrast yet complement are all part of the Moxy Milan lounge experience. A high-energy yet cosy space for gatherings, special events or simply cocktails, the lounge plays host to eclectic upbeat music that sets just the right mood.

Stay
At the Moxy Milan, getting to your room is half the fun. From the lobby, guests enter a lift designed as a shower, accented by a bright pink neon handrail and curious, bold graphics. Nothing is what it seems at the Moxy. The 162 comfortable guest rooms are each outfitted with sound-reducing walls, 42” LCD flat screen televisions, free WI-FI, snug bedding and deep-seated armchairs in calming, neutral fabrics. Every room makes a statement with a spirited floor to ceiling art piece. The design is functional and uncluttered with simple, thoughtful touches including glass shelving and open closet spaces. Bathrooms feel luxurious with power showers and large mirrors alongside spacious vanity areas featuring complimentary Rituals toiletries.

24/7 Café
Self-service has never been so appealing or convenient. The Moxy café offers plentiful, beautifully presented food and drink options including fresh juices, a coffee bar or a ready-mixed Tails cocktail in its own unique cocktail shaker. Guests can enjoy sandwiches to go or order custom-made salads from the staffed station. For heartier fare, daily options such as chicken tagine or beef rendang will be offered. Cocktails, craft beers and speciality wines will be served in the evening.

Five further Moxy hotels are expected to open in Europe by the end of 2015 – four hotels in Germany; Munich, Frankfurt and two in Berlin and also one in Oslo, Norway. Moxy Hotels is projected to reach 150 hotels within the next ten years.

Miami Beach’s newest Hilton Hotels & Resorts property, Hilton Cabana Miami Beach will proudly début in the heart of Miami Beach in Summer 2014. Located at 6261 Collins Avenue at 62nd Street, this contemporary, full-service hotel will feature 231 all-new guest rooms and is set within the quickly emerging sub-market known as “Millionaire’s Row,” that is filled with restaurants, nightlife, entertainment and shopping. This brand new, oceanfront hotel is located only minutes from South Beach, Bal Harbour, Lincoln Road, Ocean Drive, Aventura Mall, the Design District and South Florida’s best attractions, while just 13 miles north of Miami International Airport and 19 miles south of Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. The Port of Miami and the Miami Convention Center are also nearby. Upon arrival, guests will be surrounded by vibrant ocean views and striking, contemporary public spaces. Sitting on the property that formerly housed the Allison Hotel, Hilton Cabana Miami Beach consists of a 10-story main building and a six-story Cabana-style building, both offering panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Miami Beach. Offering 231 luxuriously appointed guestrooms, including 12 suites, with stylish décor reminiscent of the golden age of 1950s Miami Beach, all accommodations at Hilton Cabana Miami Beach are non-smoking and oversized with standard size guest rooms more than 376 square feet. All guest rooms feature contemporary in-room amenities such as 42-inch flat-screen TV, in-room safe, large work desk with ergonomic chair and in-room mini bar. In-room Wi-Fi is complimentary as part of the resort fee. Guests will be able to enjoy the warm sunlight of Miami Beach through oversized windows that open, and some guest rooms include balconies with views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay or pool. The hotel has 12 suites with different configurations, including junior suites, one bedroom suites and two signature suites – The Allison Suite and The Collins Suite. The hotel’s brand-new guest bathrooms are spacious and have backlit vanities and walk-in shower, with modern design and upscale bath amenities.

Hilton Cabana Miami Beach offers a delightful dining option, L’echon Brasserie. Adding to the vast array of exceptional dining offerings in Miami Beach, L’echon Brasserie is the newest outpost from The Pubbelly Group, the restaurant team behind popular South Beach restaurants Pubbelly, Pubbelly Sushi, Pubbelly Steak and Barceloneta. Focusing on traditional French cuisine with the signature gastronomic Pubbelly style, the restaurant will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu will incorporate global ingredients and cooking techniques with a menu centered around small plates meant to be shared; approachable and fun while still remaining chef-driven and unique. L’echon Brasserie is also pleased to provide Hilton Cabana Miami Beach with a delicious, upscale room service menu.

Suitable for hosting events for up to 120 people, Hilton Cabana Miami Beach offers three unique spaces for special events, including space within the outdoor pools, a 2,000 square-foot outdoor courtyard area and the ability to book private functions at L’echon Brasserie, the hotel’s signature restaurant. Both outdoor pools are capable of hosting private parties, upon request. With its ample oceanfront accommodations, the hotel is also the perfect venue for group room blocks for up to 75 people. Additional onsite amenities are abundant at the hotel and include a Connectivity Center featuring Wi-Fi access. For guests who wish to keep up with their workout program, Hilton Cabana Miami Beach offers a 24-hour fitness facility equipped with state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength-training equipment. In addition, there is a full-service Concierge Desk within the hotel lobby.

Keep cool during the summer months with this innovative, super-chic screen that provides protection from the sun while adding the perfect finishing touch to your outdoor space. Simple assembly enables installation on almost every type of building, allowing for sun or shade when you wish. Simply pull the cord to unroll the Twister Sail in an instant. With a range of colours available (custom printed fabric optional) the fabric is rain-proof, dirt repellent and easy to maintain.

Accelerating growth in markets worldwide, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans for a dual-branded hotel development in Columbus, Ohio, featuring its popular Aloft and Element brands. Owned by Indus Hotels, the 136-room Aloft Columbus and 123-room Element Columbus will be ideally located adjacent to The Ohio State University, just minutes from downtown Columbus. Marking the debut of both the Aloft and Element brands in Columbus, the hotels are slated to open in early 2017.Aloft Columbus will cater to the next generation of travelers with loft-like rooms, accessible technologies and a line-up of innovative programming. Amenities will include re:fuel by Aloft – a one-stop grab & go food and beverage area, and the W XYZ bar, which will feature local emerging artists as well as some of the hottest bands with Live at Aloft Hotels programming.

Element Columbus will offer a fresh perspective on extended stay lodging, with light-filled studios featuring a fluid design, fully equipped kitchens and spa-inspired bathrooms. Guests can stay on the move with Element’s complimentary bikes to borrow and enjoy the brand’s signature RISE breakfast and RELAX evening reception. Element is the first major hotel brand to mandate that all properties pursue the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for high-performance buildings.

Each hotel will each have its own entrance, lobby and reception area, but will share a porte-cochere and drive, large fitness center and indoor pool, 3,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, and a 300-space parking garage.

Located at 1445 Olentangy River Road, Aloft and Element Columbus will be less than a quarter mile from the campus of The Ohio State University and approximately one mile from the downtown Columbus business and commercial district and the Short North neighborhood where Starwood’s Le Méridien brand will debut in January 2015. Just minutes from Port Columbus International Airport (CMH) and Ohio State Medical Center, the hotels also offer proximity to Ohio Stadium, Nationwide Arena and Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Aloft and Element Columbus will join several other similar developments including Aloft and Element Lexington, Aloft and Element Boston Waterfront (2016), and Aloft and Element London Tobacco Dock (2017).

Création Baumann have recently introduced several new fabric ranges to the contract market. Granada
Granada is an elegant heavy weight linen with an embossed pattern of small dots in gold or silver which shimmer on this tantalisingly soft linen base.
Available in 5 colourways/135cm wide/linen

Diora
This upholstery fabric is a double weave with a striking twill weave pattern that blends a natural look with luxurious shine. The lavish mouliné yarns in warp and weft achieve exceptionally sumptuous colour tones.
Available in 30 colourways/140cm wide/100% Polyester

Dimmer Line
Trevira CS curtain fabric for the aesthetical dimming of rooms. Simple, modern, Japanese motive-inspired stripes motive. Falls gently.
Use: Dim-out fabric.
100% Flameretardant polyester (Trevira CS) – Fabric width: 150 cm

Shari Circle
This semi-transparent decoration fabric is a 100% Trevira CS but has a natural linen look.
The softly flowing jacquard quality with its linear arrangement of circles has an optical depth created by the various textures. Available in 6 Colourways /325cm wide.

Shari Line
Shari Line shares the same qualities as Shari Circle but has a soft flowing ribbon pattern.
Available in 7 colourways/325cm wide

Elumino
A Softly shimmering metal weave which can be sculpted. Strip conductors and LED elements which are integrated within the embroidery generate a geometric pattern in the bottom third of the fabric with dimmable light dots.
Material: 57% Polyester / 41% Metal / 2% Different material (wood, paper, feathers etc.)
Fabric width: 130 cm/51 inch

June Highlights
• UK Provinces and East Midlands grow profits, but London loses again
• Liverpool looms large
• RevPAR rises, profits plummet in Coventry

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has announced the signing of three more Holiday Inn Express® hotels in the UK: Holiday Inn Express® London – Vauxhall Nine Elms, Holiday Inn Express® Leigh – Sports Village and Holiday Inn Express® Wigan in Greater Manchester. Operating under a franchise agreement with first time IHG owner Heathdeal Ltd, the 132-room Holiday Inn Express London – Vauxhall Nine Elms will open later this year. The property will be rebranded from an existing hotel into a Holiday Inn Express.

Located very close to Vauxhall Cross and the Nine Elms Battersea area, this hotel will form part of one of London’s largest regeneration projects. The hotel will neighbour the new shops and offices being built as part of the redevelopment which is set to attract additional demand. The hotel has excellent public transport connections and is just a few minutes’ walk from Vauxhall Rail and Tube Station.

Meanwhile, the 135-room Holiday Inn Express Leigh – Sports Village will open this summer operating under a franchise agreement with KS Hotels Limited. The recently built property will feature six meeting rooms, a bar, lounge and dining area, as well as an on-site car park with 165 car park spaces.

Leigh Sports Village is home to Leigh Centurians Rugby League Football Club, and also hosts Blackburn Rovers and the Manchester United youth team. The well-connected multi-purpose venue accommodates concerts and boasts a conference venue with a 250 delegate capacity. The site is close to Manchester and Liverpool, as well as the towns of Warrington, Bolton and Wigan. Holiday Inn Express Leigh – Sports Village will be the only hotel in the Leigh Sports Village complex.

Opening in 2015 is the 87-room Holiday Inn Express Wigan, operating under a franchise agreement with Viking Bear Limited. Located nearby Wigan’s city centre and within close proximity to DW Stadium, the hotel is well placed to receive guests from the stadium’s busy conference centre, as well as sports fans and business travellers needing overnight accommodation.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the opening of Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park in the city’s hot new hi tech hub. Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park marks the second Aloft Hotel in Bengaluru. Managed by Starwood, the hotel is owned by the Prestige Group, a leading real estate developer in India with a diversified portfolio of hospitality, leisure, and retail, commercial and residential assets. With 191 stylish guest rooms including 13 Suites, Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park is located within the 4.5 million square feet Prestige Cessna Business Park which houses marquee IT companies. The hotel’s stylish urban design, buzzing bar and vibrant social scene is set to make Aloft the hottest destination in this fast growing market.

Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park boasts atmospheric public spaces where guests can mix and mingle, read, work or play a game of pool at the Re:mixSM lounge or grab a drink and enjoy “Live @ Aloft Hotels” that showcases live band performances by emerging artists at the signature w xyzSM bar. Spacious loft inspired guest rooms feature the brand’s signature 9 feet high ceilings, oversized windows, an ultra-comfortable platform bed and walk-in showers with Bliss Spa® bath amenities. Designed for the millennial traveler in mind, Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park offers fast and free WiFi throughout the hotel. Each room is equipped with a unique plug-and-play connectivity solution that connects most electronic devices to the 42’’ LED TV, turning the room into a high-tech office as well as an entertainment centre.
Recreational facilities at the hotel include Re:chargeSM fitness centre and SplashSM pool. Get a quick foodie fix at Re:fuel by AloftSM, a one-stop, 24-hour grab-and-go food and beverage area or enjoy a leisurely meal at the hotel’s urban cool café style restaurant, Nook.

The hotel offers 10,050 square feet of meeting space with largest banquet hall being 411 square meters, 7 tactic meeting rooms equipped with the latest generation of audio-visual hardware and an outdoor terrace Backyard providing the perfect creative spaces for business meetings or social gatherings.

In May 2014, when I prepared for a city trip to Copenhagen two things drew my eyes to the new Wakeup Copenhagen Borgergade:
1. It is very well located in the city center near Kongen Nytorv, Nyhavn, the Danish Royal Palace Amalien Borg, the Danish Design Museum and the city’s main shopping walk Oestergade. Actually its location is better than many of its competitors in the small rooms, but “design” hotel, segment.
2. The fact that it is the second Copenhagen Wakeup. That means that the first must be a success which could be repeated

A short introduction, as this is my first review for Hotel Designs. From a totally unrelated, but nevertheless creative profession, I became a hotelier myself in 2000. We’ve converted an dilapidated terraced house into a luxury 3 suites “Hotel” or B & B and operated it until we’d closed it in December, 2013. Currently I am an almost full-time blogger on several blogs, Happy Hotelier and Chair Blog being the closest related to Hotel Design. I remember being very proud having Patrick Goff, the owner of Hotel Designs, to have a look at our Haagsche Suites. I’m glad the cooperation with Patrick gives me the opportunity to stay involved with hotel design.
As an operator I am coming from the opposite end to Patrick’s experience as a designer, wherein I believe(d) the guest needs to get as much room as economically feasible in order to feel well, I’ve closely followed the change the market seems to undergo into the idea the guest doesn’t matter how small the room is, as long as its design is up to standard. So I was curious how the chain who owns the Wakeup would tackle this in Copenhagen, one of the top centers of “design”, especially furniture design. While writing the review it appeared there are many more hotels in this Pod Hotels segment in Copenhagen. I refer to the closing paragraph for more links to read on the subject.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has announced the signing of four more Holiday Inn® hotels in the UK: Holiday Inn® Cardiff – North M4 Jct.32, Holiday Inn® London – West, Holiday Inn® London – Heathrow T5 and Holiday Inn® Birmingham North – Cannock.The first to open will be Holiday Inn® Cardiff – North M4 Jct.32 – opening in just a few weeks’ time. The 95-room rebranded property will be operated by Kew Green Hotels, a long standing operating partner of IHG. The hotel will feature fantastic leisure facilities including a pool, spa, sauna and gym, as well as a bar and restaurant, board room, four meeting rooms and a newly designed lobby. Located just over three miles from Cardiff City Centre at Jct.32, the hotel has excellent road and motorway access.

Set to open this August is Holiday Inn London – West, a 225-room property including 75 new rooms and 150 refurbished rooms, which will operate under a franchise agreement with first time IHG owner Mango Hotels. The hotel offers stunning executive rooms, a number of meeting rooms, a rooftop open air terrace, as well as a fitness studio boasting fantastic views and a completely renovated ground floor with Open Lobby, restaurant and coffee bar. Conveniently situated on Western Avenue half way between Heathrow International Airport and central London, the hotel is set to benefit from its great location and the businesses nearby including the BBC and Park Royal Business Park, as well as entertainment venues Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena.

Also opening this summer is Holiday Inn London – Heathrow T5. The converted 119-room hotel will operate under a franchise agreement with existing owner partner Arora Hotels Ltd. Ideally located to the west of the M25 Motorway with easy access to Heathrow Airport Terminal 5; the hotel is well placed to receive transit, crew and corporate clientele.

Holiday Inn Birmingham North – Cannock opening in early 2015 will operate under a franchise agreement with existing owner partner Nine Hospitality Ltd. The property will be rebranded from an existing hotel into a Holiday Inn featuring 95-rooms, large meeting and conference facilities and a sky bar on the top floor of the hotel offering panoramic views of the surrounding area. Located close to the M6 Motorway, the hotel has excellent transport links to Birmingham City Centre and Birmingham International Airport.

Today, brassware plays an integral part of a bathroom’s design, but for one Swiss manufacturer, producing taps that combine form with function has been integral to its business for 160 years.Similor AG, manufacturer of Laufen brand brassware, has a history that dates back to 1846 – a time when few Swiss homes had running water, let alone a bathroom. It was in that year that Henri Jean Charles Kugler opened a small foundry to produce brass products, oil and petroleum lamps, before officially establishing the Kugler company eight years later, in 1854.

In 1863, Kugler became the first Swiss company to produce water and gas fittings, with a competitor emerging in the form of Similor SA in 1917. Similor SA acquired Kugler in 1996, before joining the Spanish family-owned company Roca, a leading global player in the bath industry, in 2007.

Now, as the brand celebrates its 160th anniversary, it is firmly established as one of Switzerland’s leading brassware manufacturers. Similor AG has been headquartered at Laufen since 2010 and plays an integral part of the Laufen brand.

Today, in its 160th year, the company combines the expertise that comes from such a long manufacturing history, with a forward-thinking approach that enables it to retain its market-leading status within the industry. This is demonstrated by the most recent brassware collections to be produced by Similor AG for Laufen, including the contemporary twinplus, twinprime, curveplus and curveprime ranges, designed to complement Laufen’s wide range of sanitaryware options.

Designed by famed architect Edwin Lutyens, the Abbey House Hotel in Cumbria has a palette of bespoke carpets from Wilton Carpets Commercial that draw inspiration from the architect’s interior influences. Creating features within the floor that are completely unique to Abbey House Hotel, the seven bespoke designs in a mixture of woven axminster for the public areas, restaurant, bar, corridors and function rooms and tufted carpets for the bedroom, form an integral part of the interior.

APM Design provided Wilton Carpets Commercial with the brief and design direction for the carpet, with the manufacturer’s design manager Julie Robertson developing the design detail and using a combination of on-trend colours from both the Optimum and Elements palettes to coordinate perfectly with the luxurious jewel toned velvet and plaid fabrics. Throughout all areas slate and zinc base tones combine with fashionable plum, aubergine, lime and teal to create a harmonious flow of beautifully rich colours.

A constant contemporary plaid design flows through public spaces, with fresh elements and additional colours creating individuality in different areas, from beautiful organic scrolls to the stunning large scale overlaid lace-like effect in the Grand Hall. In each area, Wilton Carpets Commercial has shown its expertise in planning and design. Taking inspiration from the hotel’s breathtaking manicured gardens, the corridors are resplendent in an eloquent plum and aubergine scroll leaf design which flows beautifully down the corridors and makes feature areas; while the reception, bars and lounge enjoy a muted take on geometric patterning based on an original tile. In the main bar this inspiration continues, with the tile-inspired design overlaid by a clever contemporary damask to soften the look.

Throughout public areas of Abbey House Hotel, six bespoke woven axminster designs were created with a mixture of wall-to-wall carpet and rug inlays to the parquet floor. Within bedrooms, a tufted carpet in a bespoke striated design has been employed in a colour palette that echoes that found throughout the public areas of Abbey House Hotel.

“We have worked very successfully with Wilton Carpets Commercial over the last few years and feel the team has an excellent understanding of just what commercial interior designers require,” comments Andy McCluskey, design director, APM Design. “Their assistance in terms of design and support helps the whole process and as always, the quality of the carpets and their ability to be adaptable is crucial to achieving a successful outcome.”

The woven axminster carpets have been specified in a highly durable nine-row construction that provides great levels of appearance retention throughout the 900 square metres of axminster installed. Some 600 square metres of tufted carpet provide the ideal combination of comfort, appearance retention and value throughout the bedrooms of the early 20th Century building. Both woven and tufted carpets were installed by Kendal Quality Carpets of Cumbria.

Originally designed as a grand country residence that played host to King George V, the Queen Mother and even the Prince of Siam, the sandstone building was converted into a hotel in 1986 and retains many of the interior features created by one of England’s most famous architects. With a respectful extension in 2000 and set in 14 acres of private grounds, the Grade II* hotel is one of the Lake District’s most desirable places to stay and has won Cumbrian Wedding Venue of the Year three years running.

Two of the Lake District’s best-known hotels are unveiling a luxurious new look. The Cragwood and Merewood Country House Hotels are undergoing a stylish refurbishment under the guidance of Sarah Jane Nielsen – named “one of the UK’s finest interior designers” by VOGUE magazine.The sister hotels between Ambleside and Windermere are unique properties with their own distinctive character and architecture. Built in 1910 with Edwardian gardens designed by Thomas Mawson, Cragwood is a characterful Arts and Crafts property, while the recently named ‘Lakeland Hotel of the Year’ Merewood has more of a stately, hunting lodge style.

Owners Impact are making a significant investment in the hotels’ public areas, including lounges and receptions areas, as well as enhancing Merewood’s bedrooms with a range of luxurious touches, such as Zoffany damasks and printed velvets from Linwood. Working alongside Sarah Jane, the aim is to bring out the properties’ individual personalities more fully and make the most of their individual features and architecture.

CEO and Founder of Impact, David Williams, says, “The programme of refurbishment at Cragwood is all about showcasing its rich Arts and Crafts heritage throughout the property. At Merewood, we’ve gone for a grander, more classical style which reflects the unique history of this private 20 acre estate, originally built for the 1st Earl of Lonsdale 200 years ago.

He adds, “We’re also currently looking into the possibility of significant future expansion on both sites – reflecting the unique nature of these very special properties. We’re really confident about the future of the hotels and what they have to offer to a range of visitors.”

Designer Sarah Jane Nielsen says, “These are both substantial, individual period properties and the decoration and interior design is bound to create a more luxurious experience for visitors to both hotels. Carefully chosen fabrics, furniture, room accessories will also add to levels of comfort and relaxation.”

Another hotel in the Lake District Country Hotels group, Briery Wood, is also lined up for a make-over in the coming months. This third longer-term project will take place over the next year, with the aim of creating a more contemporary style in keeping with the original design of the 19th century property.

After 25 years of service, John Brunton, Hansgrohe’s first and longest-serving project consultant, retires from the business aged 65 years and hands over to his successor James Murray.A pioneer within the Hansgrohe team, John joined the company in 1989 from the Berglen Group, originally importers of Hansgrohe products, prior to the UK subsidiary being established in 1990. Along with founding Managing Director, Iain McKinlay, John worked to build up the retail market, becoming involved with the occasional project along the way.

Twenty five years later and a dedicated Projects Team at Hansgrohe UK headed up by Jay Phillips, and more recently, a Global Projects Team headquartered in Germany that works closely with the UK team has been set-up to handle contracts where the stakeholders and professionals involved span several countries. John has spent his last months with this new team and is now suceeded by James with the title of Projects Consultant, International Projects.

Having amassed a wealth of experience in the residential, hospitality and shipping sectors, John has worked on some prestigious projects over the years; in fact his resume reads like a ‘who’s who’ of some of the world’s most luxurious properties.

Hotel chains such as Bulgari, Hyatt, Four Seasons, Mandarin and Hilton, British Airways Lounges world-wide including Terminal 5 at Heathrow airport, Sunseeker Yachts, Cunard’s QE2 and QM2 and, most recently, the Shangri La at the Shard in London.

John looks forward to spending more time with his family, including two grandchildren. He is also a keen sailor, plays the guitar and plans on learning the ukele. He has treated himself to a classic red Alfa Romeo Spider, so will be out cruising the streets with his wife and miniature Schnauzer dog, Monty.

“2014 is an extraordinary year,” say James Murray, “After 13 years working for Kohler, I have accepted the challenge of Hansgrohe, an innovative and design-oriented company. Because I´ve been working with John and the team for six months, I feel well equipped to gain future projects for our brands. And what´s more since June I have been the proud father of our first child, a little boy, so everything is very exciting!”

The latest collection of rugs and wallcoverings from innovative US company Kyle Bunting introduces striking new designs, colours and patterns for walls as well as floors. As with previous collections, the statement designs redefine how traditional hides are used in interiors and provide a unique focal point in any room. The collection is now available from Fameed Khalique. With an emphasis on indulging the sense of touch as well as the versatility to meet any aesthetic criteria, the hides create the ultimate indulgent interior experience. Sumptuous textures are layered with playful colours and exciting patterns to provide a striking design statement and create a tactile and engaging environment.

Hide Paper
This unique collection is made from the finest quality hair-on-hide leather, and thanks to pioneering technology no stitching is required ensuring a high-quality and seamless finish.

Instead, hides are expertly fused onto a rubber backing, which aside from creating a flawless look, allows for the hides to be easily applied to a multitude of surfaces. Easy application means that the Hide Paper collection provides a simple and swift way of updating your interiors to make a strong design statement in the home.

Designs in the striking Hide Paper collection are made from the same premium Italian leather as the rugs, and challenge the usual connotations of wallcoverings with their tactile surface and unexpected composition. For the ultimate feature wall, choose from the extensive offering within the collection, or instead embrace your creativity and personality with a bespoke design.

Bespoke Hide Creations
By combining the unique techniques used to create the hides with the design team’s expert eye for colour and pattern, any design is possible, from neutral and traditional to bold and contemporary.

Whether for a wall or floor, a residential space or commercial project, Kyle Bunting hides can be made to measure with a bespoke design unique to individual scheme and size requirements.

Alongside the bold geometric and deco-inspired patterns typical of Kyle Bunting, the latest designs showcase beautiful detailing and exquisite craftsmanship through delicate nature-inspired images such as butterflies and trees, for a more subtle statement.

Kew Green Management has secured seven new management opportunities during the second quarter of 2014, including two Holiday Inn Hotels, four Ramada Encore Hotels and The Grand Brighton.The seven hotels include:
• The Grand, Brighton, a 201 bedroom hotel, which was acquired by a Private Investor in April this year;

• Four Ramada Encore Hotels, located in Barnsley, Birmingham NEC, Crewe and Haydock;

• The Holiday Inn Cardiff North, which is currently closed for refurbishment and is scheduled to open at the end of July;

• The Holiday Inn London – Shepperton, taking our total number of Holiday Inn hotels to 20 across the UK.

‘We are delighted to have added these hotels to our portfolio and look forward to seeing them continue to develop under our management. These additions are part of our continued strategy to grow our managed division, alongside our owned estate, with a target to reach a portfolio of in excess of 60 hotels’ commented Paul Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Kew Green Hotels Ltd.

Kew Green Hotels now operate 37 hotels across the UK under 6 major brands; Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, Days Hotel, Ramada and Courtyard by Marriott. They also operate The Richmond Hill Hotel, a four star property in South West London and The Grand Brighton.

Boss Design will showcase an impressive line-up of new products at this year’s flagship event. Echoing the design vision and manufacturing expertise associated with this iconic brand, the new products extend the company’s successful Soft Office range and include a sofa collection and single seat work booths. The new sofa collection is ideal for use in breakout spaces. Designed to accommodate those offices where space is at a premium, it features a compact footprint and can be assembled on site in the event of restricted access. With a simple, clean and distinctive design, the corners are rounded in a friendly shape with oversized piping featuring on the back, arms and seat to create a cohesive design. Available in high back and low back variants, the sofas be may be further personalised with contrasting upholstery on the inner and outer surfaces.

Also being displayed is Peek – a single seat, high-backed work booth that was successfully showcased at Clerkenwell Design Week. To complete the family line-up, a low-backed version, Boo, will also be unveiled at the show.

Commenting on its presence at the show, Brian Murray, Managing Director of The Boss Design Group says: “100% Design provides the perfect platform to introduce our new collections. Communication, collaboration, sustainability and flexibility are just some of the key driving forces behind the design of office furniture today and our latest products reflect these trends.”

Brian adds: “Soft seating is a realistic and ergonomically sound alternative for meeting and collaborative areas, and our expanding Soft Office collection is perfect for meeting the demands of modern offices.”

Alongside new products, Boss Design will also be exhibiting its latest range of chairs from leading British designers Mark Gabbertas and Paul Brooks, together with Deploy – a flip-top table range designed by leading design consultants, Broome Jenkins.

100% Design 2014
Stand: 0210

The innovative LED Dock is one of the stand out pieces from Chelsom’s new collection, Edition 24. Available in five different colour finishes, LED Dock is pictured in the industrially inspired Black Bronze and English Brass combination which is a striking new addition to Chelsom’s range of finishes.

This warm white LED reading light is housed within a rectangular head that swivels 90 degrees and ‘docks’ into a semi recessed backplate, which can be vertically or horizontally mounted.

Both docking switch or push switch variations are available and combination wall light options can be produced providing the perfect bedside lighting solution marrying design functionality and technology with design.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and The Howard Hughes Corporation® have recently announced that the renowned Westin brand will soon open its fifth hotel in greater Houston. The Westin, The Woodlands will debut at the end of 2015 within The Woodlands, one of the country’s premier master planned communities and a leading business center located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. The newly constructed Westin will offer 302 luxurious guest rooms, more than 15,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space, an outdoor pool, WestinWORKOUT® studio, business center and all the brand’s signature amenities in a scenic location overlooking The Woodlands Waterway® in Waterway Square®. The Westin, The Woodlands will feature a 150-seat restaurant, lobby bar and second level pool deck and bar, with direct access to The Fountains at Waterway Square. Guests can also cross an adjacent pedestrian bridge spanning The Waterway to access the performance stage at Waterway Square.

The new Westin will boast a prime location on Waterway Square within The Woodlands. The 28,000-acre development is home to more than 1,900 businesses employing over 50,000 people. The hotel will be within walking distance to numerous corporate offices, the shops and restaurants in The Waterway Square District, The Woodlands Mall and Market Street, as well as The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Also nearby is the new Hughes Landing, a 66-acre mixed-use development situated on the 200-acre Lake Woodlands.

The sensory-rich environment at Westin offers a respite from the rigors of travel and sets a welcoming tone. The Westin brand’s innovative programs and instinctive service transform every aspect of a guest’s stay into a revitalizing experience. All guestrooms and suites at The Westin, The Woodlands will feature the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed – featuring lush sheets, down cushioning and a patented pillow-top mattress, which cradles and contours to the body for complete comfort. Guests will revive in the Heavenly® Bath enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and White Tea Aloe bath amenities, in-room and high-speed Internet access. The hotel will also offer the Westin brand’s signature SuperFoodsRX® menu, which includes nutrient-rich and delicious options to tempt every palate.

Agua are delighted to welcome Beverley Petzing to their team as Sales & Specification Manager for the London area. With many recent range extensions and new product developments coming through later this year, Agua sees the appointment of Beverley as a crucial step in getting the collections presented to the Interior Design and Specifier sectors within London.

Beverley can be contacted on beverley@aguafabrics.com

Staff at a leading Birmingham-based silversmith are celebrating after delivering a tableware order for a new London restaurant in record time.Heritage Collection designed, manufactured and delivered a complex order of bespoke silverware, cutlery and glassware to the newly opened Palomar restaurant in Soho in just three weeks.

The order consisted of more than 2,500 items to be used in the restaurant’s 40-cover dining space and 16-cover Zinc kitchen bar.

Palomar, in Rupert Street in the heart of London’s theatre-land, serves food of modern Jerusalem, heavily influenced by the cuisine of southern Spain and North Africa. It is the first restaurant of its kind in the UK.

Chairman of Small Heath-based Heritage Collection, Martin McDonagh said, “This was a particularly challenging contract because of the short lead times involved. We had to produce pieces from bespoke designs ready for delivery in just three weeks. It involved a lot of hard work and long hours but we were delighted to be able to complete and deliver it on time.”

Palomar director Layo Paskin said they were delighted to have found a UK manufacturer with Heritage’s capabilities.

“We spent 18 months planning the restaurant, from the menus to the intricate design and build and all of the branding aesthetics. We searched hard to find a company to manufacture the tableware, as we wanted this to be equally special. Then we met Martin from Heritage and it was perfect. We were incredibly pleased to find a British factory that was willing and able to make bespoke tableware and interpret our ideas in a very short lead time. It provided the finishing touch and the perfect complement to everything about the restaurant,” he said.

Heritage Collection, established in 1976, manufactures high quality, bespoke tableware for the world’s most iconic hotels and restaurants. The company combines traditional skills with the latest design and prototyping technologies to produce a portfolio of luxurious tableware. The company’s clients include The Ritz, The Dorchester, the QE2 and intercontinental Hotels.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the 103-room Holiday Inn Express Yorkton hotel in Saskatchewan. Located at 63 7th Avenue North, the hotel features 21 suites, including four family suites. Prominently situated close to Highway 16, the hotel is within walking distance to Yorkton City Hall and several corporate and government offices. ) . Located one kilometer from downtown, the four-floor hotel is also nearby popular restaurants, the Deer Park golf course and Gallagher Center; which holds two indoor arenas, a curling rink, sports hall and meeting rooms.

Guest rooms will feature contemporary styling, comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast 100% Arabica coffee. The SimplySmart™ shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart™ Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod. Upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and Bath & Body Works White Citrus bath products are also included. Guests will enjoy the SimplySmart™ bedding collection, where they will find crisp, fresh bedding that features an attractive decorative throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft, 200 thread-count sheets.

The Holiday Inn Express Yorkton hotel, owned by 101149013 Saskatchewan Ltd. and managed by VJ Management Inc. is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

Building on from their highly successful ‘Faux Leather’ collections, Sekers can now offer the market ‘Montana’, a 100% corrected leather available in 36 scintillating colourways. With class leading performance in abrasion, colour and light fastness, together with its splash resistant coating, it can be specified with confidence!As you would expect Montana is available by the hide with the average yielding 5.5 Sqm and is produced from the best possible raw materials available. It is suitable for severe contract use passing the U.K. Crib 5 & BS 7176 Medium hazard and relevant U.S. standards. For marine use it passes I.M.O. A652 (16).

Sekers will launch its ‘Harris Tweed’ collection this summer. Consisting of co-ordinating Check, Herringbone and Dogtooth designs in six authentic colours that you would expect from the island of Harris. Interestingly Harris Tweed is the only fabric in the world that is protected buy an Act of Parliament! This states that it must be made with ‘100% pure virgin wool, dyed, spun and finished in the Outer Hebrides and woven by hand by the Islanders in their homes on the Islands of Lewis, Harris, Uist and Barra.’

Being 100% wool it is inherently flame retardant and therefore suitable for severe contract upholstery, Curtains and bedding passing all relevant land based and marine standards.

Naturalmat has been appointed as the official bed supplier for Qbic London City.Qbic, who are pioneers of sustainability in the hotel arena were impressed by Naturalmat’s eco credentials and loved the idea of their guests sleeping on a sustainably sumptuous bed!
Naturalmat has been hand crafting natural and organic mattresses from their premises on the banks of the River Exe in Devon for the last fifteen years. Each mattress is made by hand using the finest raw materials and all from renewable and sustainable sources.

So what makes the Qbic Bed so comfy?

From the bottom up…The Qbic Bed Base
This Superking size hand crafted bed base is made with a double sprung beech slat system to give the base proper spring and flexibility. It has been robustly constructed to blend Naturalmat’s bed making skills with Qbic’s individual design flair. The finished result is the centrepiece of the uniquely styled Cubi.

The piece de resistance… The Qbic Mattress
The Qbic Mattress owes its sublime comfort to the unique combination of natural fibres and fillings. Organic coir fibre (coconut fibre) makes up the mattress core and provides excellent support and spring. Next add organic latex for its hypo-allergenic and naturally breathable properties. Layers of recycled denim (shredded off cuts from jeans manufacturers) make the mattress feel extra sumptuous and its topped with certified organic lambswool (sourced from local farms within a 50 mile radius of our Devon factory). Finally encase in an anti-bed bug quilted cotton mattress cover and hey presto the Qbic mattress is complete.

The cherry on top – The Qbic Topper
For total extravagance, Qbic treat their guests to a Naturalmat topper. This is made from extra layers of our organic wool and adds even more lavish comfort to their beds. The filling is quilted into a soft cotton cover and the topper has corner straps to prevent it from moving during the night.

Test drive our mattresses at Qbic London City. Please use code NATURALMATQBIC to get an exclusive 10% discount on your Qbic booking.

Click here to buy your own Qbic Bed Base, Qbic Mattress or Qbic Topper.

Opening this August, one of the most delightful aspects of the new Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort is its breathtaking location in the Walt Disney World® Resort. The Resort is set amid the palm-tree lined, gated Golden Oak community, a Disney-developed residential enclave of custom single family homes. Located in a lushly landscaped area with many mature trees, lakes and protected wetlands, the community serves as an oasis — close to all the action and entertainment nearby, yet with a feeling of seclusion. One of the distinguishing factors of Four Seasons is its renowned service culture. Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort will have approximately 1,000 team members on property, and to date, more than 70 have transferred to the Resort from various Four Seasons properties worldwide — from as far as the Serengeti in Africa and Sydney, Australia to as near as Palm Beach. Four Seasons hotels are known for creating personalised guest experiences that embrace the local surroundings. With a 23-acre recreational paradise, and connectivity to Disney, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort will provide guests with a very special destination experience.

The Kids For All Seasons programme provides a complimentary kids camp for children ages 5 to 12 on a daily basis during the hours of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm — a one-of-a-kind offering in central Florida. While children are having a blast at Kids For All Seasons, parents can enjoy relaxation at the 18-treatment room Spa, or unwind in the paradise of The Oasis adult pool, for ages 21 and up, featuring cabanas and poolside cocktail service. In addition, golfers will love the 18-hole golf course, newly redesigned by Tom Fazio, and tennis aficionados will enjoy the three Har-Tru tennis courts and a variety of clinics, matches and more offered in partnership with Peter Burwash International. A spacious lakeside fitness centre is available 24-hours a day, with fitness classes ranging from yoga to cardio offered on a daily basis.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of a new Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites in Calgary, Alberta following a $25 million investment by 722413 Alberta Ltd. The six-story, 113-room hotel also includes 49 suites, a business center, indoor swimming pool with waterslide, and a large meeting space for up to 160 people appropriate for both weddings and corporate meetings. Additionally, the hotel boasts beautiful mountain and downtown views and a heated underground parking facility. This 78,000-square-foot addition to IHG’s hotels in Calgary is located close to some of the city’s major attractions such as McMahon Stadium at the University of Calgary and the Canada Olympic Park. Other neighboring attractions include Calgary Zoo, SAIT Polytechnic, Calaway Park and the Tellus Science Museum.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Calgary NW University Area, owned by 722413 Alberta Ltd, and managed by Stanley Park Investments, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

Travelodge, the UK’s biggest independent hotel chain, has today announced that it is continuing to expand in Scotland and is looking for ten new hotel sites across the country. This represents an investment of £75 million and means the creation of 200 new jobs. Positions will include the following: Hotel Manager, Assistant Hotel Manager, Receptionists, Housekeeper and Guest Room Cleaners.

Travelodge introduced the budget (value) hotel concept in Scotland back in 1986 when it opened its first hotel in Stirling. Today, the chain operates 40 hotels and has expanded beyond its traditional roadside locations into key city centre and tourist locations, and is the largest hotel operator in Edinburgh with eleven hotels across the capital.

Peter Gowers, Travelodge Chief Executive said:

“There is a big opportunity to further expand in Scotland. At present, the value hotel market in Scotland stands at 14 per cent, compared to 18 per cent in England and more than 30 per cent in the US. By 2030, the budget hotel sector could account for almost a quarter of the UK market, with a similar level of growth expected in Scotland.”

Locations include the fifth Travelodge in the city of Aberdeen, as well as popular tourist locations such as Oban and St Andrews. Other locations are Peterhead, East Kilbride, Falkirk, Hamilton, Wishaw, Motherwell and North Ayrshire.

In addition to today’s announcement, Travelodge has also invested £4 million in the last 12 months into modernising over half of its Scottish hotels with a new contemporary look – which has been designed by the Travelodge customers. This initiative includes revamping Travelodge rooms, Bar Cafes and reception areas. The new modern Travelodge room includes a bespoke luxurious king size bed called the Travelodge Dreamer bed. (See notes to editors for details on the new look Travelodge room)

This modernisation programme is part of a wider £57 million refurbishment investment Travelodge is currently undertaking throughout the UK. By autumn this year, over 80% of Travelodge rooms will feature new modern room.

Designed to be clear, clean and simple to use, leading bathroom solutions brand Roca has re-launched its website at www.uk.roca.com. Making it easy for end users, retailers, installers and architects and designers to quickly find the Roca products they need, as well as giving them the opportunity to browse for inspiration, the new website features stunning visuals and enhanced functionality throughout.

From the homepage, customers can click on the Collections button to see Roca’s wide variety of bathroom collections, with inspiring photography and detailed descriptions of each product available within a range. Visitors to the website who are looking for a specific Roca product can find it instantly via the Product Search tool. Once the desired product is found installers can also download the installation manual and technical drawings in PDF format, while the Professional Area of the site contains vital information for anyone specifying and designing bathrooms using Roca products. Tools include a downloadable library of CAD files, a 3D bathroom planner for creating virtual bathrooms and a comprehensive Spare Parts List.

Ensuring that customers have access to Roca products and inspiration 24-7, the new-look website also has a link to the Roca App, which enables the full product catalogue to be viewed on a mobile device or tablet.

Visitors to www.uk.roca.com can also purchase Roca products through the online store, and have their order delivered to their local Roca retailer for collection.

A valuable online resource for anyone involved in bathroom design, the re-vamped website also has references to Roca’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.

“With the internet and how people use it continually evolving, it is important that as a market-leading brand we adapt our website accordingly,” comments Georgina Spencer, Marketing Manager for Roca Group UK. “Not only does it now look fresher and crisper, it is also more user-friendly, enabling customers to access our broad range of bathroom solutions effortlessly and to download the information they need to design beautiful bathrooms in an instant, even while they are on the go.”

It was once the home to Adam Bothwell, the Bishop of Orkney who officiated at the marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots to the 4th Earl of Bothwell, in the 16th century.But five centuries on the Grade A-listed property has been given a £1 million restoration and transformed into luxury accommodation.

The four one bedroom studio serviced apartments in Advocate’s Close, off the Royal Mile, is the latest contemporary offering from the Old Town Chambers.

Blending state-of the-art facilities with centuries old architectural features, such as solid stone walls, existing blocked windows re-opened, and former doorways reinstated with original timber panels and doors reused wherever possible; 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 historic places to stay in Scotland.

The nine month project is 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.

Julie Grieve, CEO of the Old Town Chambers, said:

“The house, itself, has a level of notoriety, having been home to Adam Bothwell, who was criticised for agreeing to the exchange of lands, rights and revenues of his northern diocese for the commendatorship of Holyrood Abbey.

“But nearly five hundred years on we’re delighted to have given this significant building with a remarkable heritage a new life and a fresh future.

“As with every aspect of this development we have carefully considered the historic features within our designs and have undertaken a sensitive restoration of the key features to create a set of stylish apartments that reflect the very best of Edinburgh past and present.”

The Old Town Chambers contains 36 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.

Sanderson Paints are pleased to share with you exciting new images in a range of inventive styles and on-trend colours, to celebrate their brand new look and the launch of ‘Active’ emulsion.The new livery is smart and sophisticated, to reflect a brand with such heritage.

At the same time, Sanderson are pleased to announce the launch of their new ‘Active Emulsion’ paint. This superlative paint quality is durable and hard-wearing.

The ‘Active Emulsion’ paint is a high performance product and a technically superior emulsion, suitable for interior use on walls and woodwork. Highly durable and washable, this new finish is ideal for use in high traffic areas.

Crosswater have recently uploaded some new product demonstration videos to YouTube to introduce their new ranges. To save time searching for them online, they have been listed below for your convenience. Enjoy!Mike Pro
For bathrooms that are as beautifully crafted as they are designed, the Mike Pro Collection delivers on function, style and quality for a look that encapsulates a modern elegance that’s second to none.

KH01
A sophisticated design which complements Crosswater’s superior craftsmanship. The innovative shapes with statuesque appeal creatively combine sleek aesthetics with practical design.

KH02
KH Zero 2 combines soft, curvaceous shapes with sleek lines and highly functional design. The contemporary shapes of this collection have a touch of luxe and hotel boutique glamour.

KH03
Angular in form, KH Zero 3 possesses exceptional performance quality, with alluring appeal created using state of the art technology.

KH04
KH Zero 4 is confidentially artistic with a whisper of hotel boutique, creating a sublime centrepiece in keeping with a prominent trend in bathrooms which focuses on art.

A Bodmin Moor hotel has invested in eight wooden Hobbit Houses with the support of Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

Co-owner of the Wheal Tor Hotel, Maxine Frost, approached the bank for a commercial loan to expand the premises and offer an outdoors experience for her guests. Each house can sleep five people, increasing the hotel’s customer capacity by 40.The Hobbit Houses, which are outdoor wooden cabins, opened in June and to cope with the anticipated increase in guest demand, Maxine has increased her members of staff by three.

As the hotel is based in two and a half acres of woods, Maxine has also fitted a shower block and a BBQ area so the guests of the Hobbit Houses can enjoy outdoor comfort.

Maxine and her husband, Mark, took over the business two years ago and have since gone on to build a conservatory in the bar area and refurbish all bedrooms and bathrooms with the support of the bank.

The couple have just finished an infinity deck where guests can enjoy the surrounding view and plan to build another area in the hotel woodlands by creating a traditional gypsy caravan camp.

A new summerhouse in the hotel gardens, which houses a sauna and a hot tub, will be completed for the peak holiday season in July.

The freehold licenced premises is the highest hotel in Cornwall, standing more than 900 ft. high atop Caradon Hill, once home to Captain Seccombe who managed the East Caradon copper mine. The original window from which the Captain would pay his miners is still in use.

Maxine said: “Bodmin Moor hosts beautiful scenery but it is illegal for people to camp. Through the new Hobbit Houses, families and couples alike will be able to enjoy the next best thing. The funding from the bank has enabled us to invest in this new venture and will also allow us to continue an expansion of the grounds, increasing our customer base.”

Dave Ware, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “The hotel welcomes guests and locals alike. Maxine and Mark saw the potential of the premises and have most definitely put their stamp on the business since buying it in 2012.

“Our year-on-year net growth in advances to SMEs, such as the Wheal Tor Hotel, was five per cent in the 12 months leading up to March 2014. It is great that we can support UK entrepreneurs, like Maxine and Mark, to continue the thriving tourism industry in Britain.”

Almost a year to the day since the launch of its original Bloomsbury collection, BAGNODESIGN has introduced new extensions to what has fast become one of its best-selling bathroom ranges.Representing an era of elegance and style from a period when London, and the area of Bloomsbury in particular, was the creative centre of the world, the collection elegantly combines classical styling with modern technology and creativity.

With storage being an essential element of a bathroom’s design, one of the most popular pieces in the Bloomsbury collection is the beautiful Ebony Wall-mounted Vanity Unit, which is now available as a 60cm width option. Ideal for smaller bathrooms, the unit is manufactured from the finest marine ply and features an interior leather trim for the ultimate in luxury and is the perfect match for the Ebony Wall-mounted Vertical Storage Unit which is also now available in a smaller size of 32cm wide by 136cm high.

A centre-piece of the collection are the freestanding bathtubs, with the Farringdon bath joining the existing line-up. Available with either a white or black exterior, Farringdon is an acrylic freestanding bath with claw feet for the archetypal traditional finish in the bathroom.

The Bloomsbury collection’s extensive range of brassware has also been extended, to embrace the full range of finishes that BAGNODESIGN can offer, including chrome, bronze, brushed nickel, polished nickel and gold. And putting safety first in the bathroom, two new thermostatic shower valves have been added to the range, fusing classical elegance with contemporary design and functionality.

For a completely co-ordinated finish, the Bloomsbury collection from BAGNODESIGN also includes a comprehensive range of wall-mountable accessories, which has also been extended with items designed to match the styling found on the Bloomsbury brassware.

Equipped with Select operating technology, new shower solutions from bathroom specialist Hansgrohe offer the world of concealed installations more features, more design and convenient operation at the touch of a button. Available from June 2014, there is a new round S-design; ShowerSelect thermostat with integrated shower support, and new ShowerSelect manual mixers to complement the existing thermostatic options and meet the widest range of installation needs.New to the ShowerSelect Family
In addition to the thermostats and new mixers with square wall plates, the new ShowerSelect S offers the choice of an alternative, attractive round design. Ideal for creating harmonious bathroom schemes, they are perfect for combining with round hand and overhead showers.

Particularly ingenious is the new ShowerSelect thermostat with integrated Fixfit hose connection and shower support. Hose and shower can be selected to suit the user’s bathroom and requirements, and are easy to install: a smart solution for the shower. Its timeless, architectural form makes this thermostat the perfect choice for modern bathrooms, because it can be combined with lots of hand and overhead showers.

The new ShowerSelect mixers are ideal for situations where a thermostatic solution is not required. They also come in the two design variants: with square or round wall plates. They are particularly suitable for use in locations where the water pressure in the pipes is stable guaranteeing uniform water temperature. Their intuitive operating concept is a key feature in all the ShowerSelect variants: the Select buttons and the ring with the eye-catching temperature display are given an elegant matt finish for better legibility of the symbols. The slender, flat handle enables the user to control the required temperature, with precision – even with soapy hands. The ergonomic and intuitive usability and easy-to-read symbols are ideal for older people, children and those with restricted mobility. There is also the option of installing the Select buttons in such a way that they are raised slightly so can be felt – features which qualify the ShowerSelect concealed installation solutions for use in bathrooms that require a high level of accessibility or in public shower facilities.

Intuitive and Innovative concealed solutions
The interaction with the iBox universal, makes installation of the ShowerSelect mixers and ShowerSelect thermostats, incredibly easy. The concealed installation unit is space-saving and creates a clean look, even for complex shower systems. They are also ideal for renovating existing bathrooms, which often have the iBox already installed.

The ShowerSelect concept is based on an innovative shut-off valve, which enables the water flow to be controlled at the simple touch of a button, and no longer by rotating. There are no complex electronics, just a reliable mechanical control. The person showering can easily turn the water on and off or select the required jet type, all at the touch of a button. A concealed installation solution in the shower area has many advantages: the technology is hidden in the wall making the shower area look tidy and uncluttered, and allowing greater freedom of movement for the showerer.

LUX* Resorts & Hotels has recently announced the LUX* Tea Horse Road (LUX* Chamadao) as the foundation for its planned expansion into China. On account of its largely undiscovered yet spectacular natural beauty, unparalleled diversity of peoples and thriving ancient cultures, the Greater Shangri-la region is set to become one of the world’s most desirable destinations for discerning luxury travellers seeking unspoilt beauty and authentic customs and tradition.Conceived as a 30-room luxury boutique hotel, situated on two neighbouring sites in the heart of Li-jiang Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Phase One (10 rooms) of LUX* Lijiang opens on September 09, 2014. Phase Two (20 rooms), which will incorporate the brand’s signature Café LUX*, a bakery and a localised interpretation of the established LUX* Me wellbeing philosophy, should open in mid-2015.

Under the terms of a long-term management agreement, executed in March 2014, LUX* Lijiang will be the first in a circuit of distinctive regional luxury boutique hotels. Initially located across the abundant South West provinces of Yunnan and Szechuan as well as bordering Tibet, the complete circuit of individual properties and bespoke experiences will be known collectively as the LUX* Tea Horse Road. The circuit is being developed by Lijiang Yulong Tourism Corporation Limited, which will own the properties as well as being responsible for their design and construction, in partnership with LUX* Resorts & Hotels who will be the manager.

Positioned at a major crossroads of the ancient Tea Horse Road, in the home of the Naxi people, LUX* Lijiang will encourage guests to engage with the rich history and culture of this unique locale throughout their stay – from the authentic architecture and design to the customisable menu of daily excursions and experiences that will be offered. LUX* favorites will be complemented by new experiences that celebrate the local culture, affording travellers a true insight into this undiscovered world – from the rituals that surround the world-famous Pu’er tea, to the distinctive cuisines of the Naxi, and the Tibetan people and the spiritual mysteries of a truly multi-faith society.

Paul Jones, CEO of LUX* Resorts & Hotels is leading the conceptualisation and design of this exciting development. He explains why LUX* Tea Horse Road is the perfect new destination for the growing company’s innovative brand:

“China’s economic progress, continued stability and the growing ease of travel have made the continent increasingly attractive to trend-setting travellers who are looking for unspoiled destinations rich in original and genuine experiences. It is no surprise that LUX* found it equally irresistible.

As a young and dynamic organisation, we have determined to grow our brand presence in China and to open a window onto one of China’s most spectacular and untouched wonders: the Tea Horse Road. Thanks to our partnership with the Lijiang Yulong Tourism Corporation Ltd., this ambition will become reality.

In a comparatively short time, we have built a strong and growing Chinese customer base for our existing operations in the Indian Ocean. Our intention now is to create the journey of a lifetime for these guests in this most special part of their own country. My personal goal is to ensure we offer to all our guests the opportunity to become part of an exclusive, happy and harmonious hotel family. I am confident that we can achieve that within the beautiful world of LUX* in China.

We are hugely excited to launch LUX* Tea Horse Road – A Passage through Place and Time and to invite the world’s most adventurous travellers and luxury connoisseurs alike to come experience, savour and appreciate the natural, cultural and spiritual wonders of the greater Shangri-La region.”

Mr He, Chairman of the Yulong Tourism Corporation Ltd, also expressed his delight with the partnership:

“Having a proven track record in delighting sophisticated luxury travellers from around the world, we are delighted to announce our cooperation with LUX* Resorts and Hotels. Together, we are going to chart a new chapter in the history of tourism and hospitality in the legendary region of Greater Shan-gri-La. We are proud today to be opening LUX* Lijiang, the first stop in what we intend to become one of the great journeys of the world.”

With an ideal position at the centre of the city and a beloved place in Russia’s heritage, the new Four Seasons Hotel Moscow will soon reopen its doors to first class dining establishments, refined meeting and event spaces and the capital’s finest accommodations, plus an all-new destination Spa presented with warm, friendly and unparalleled levels of service.Originally built in the 1930s with Joseph Stalin’s approval, Hotel Moskva saw many chapters in the Russian saga – and might have even shaped a few. As an unofficial home base for the Soviet Union’s political and cultural power players, the Hotel also hosted a star-studded cast of international guests. Even today, the landmark façade is instantly recognisable the world over as it is immortalised on the label of the famous Stolichnaya vodka.

Now, with immense respect for architect Alexei Shchusev’s original vision for the 15 storey building, interior designers Richmond International have created a contemporary homage to history that is firmly positioned in the 21st century. Its fashion-forward style and modern comforts set the stage for the unmatched level of service enjoyed by Four Seasons guests around the world. Along with the state-of-the-art technologies that characterise the new building, modern culture is also on display in the form of a collection of contemporary Russian art throughout the Hotel.

Moscow’s Finest Accommodations
All 180 rooms and suites are bathed in natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows providing postcard views, whilst many benefit from having step-out balconies for guests to enjoy. From the generous 48 square metre Deluxe Room to the palatial 520 square metres of the Pozharsky Royal Suite, the Hotel offers some of the city’s most spacious accommodations, each featuring the new customisable Four Seasons Bed amongst other top-of-the-range amenities.

The multi-lingual concierge team is ready to assist in planning bespoke itineraries, and the 24-hour business centre provides support to travellers away from their home office. Families are welcomed with an array of special surprises and benefits for younger guests, as well as small pets.

Let’s Meet at Four Seasons
Two signature restaurants are at the heart of Four Seasons Hotel Moscow, including Quadrum, the Italian dining establishment as well as Bystro where Hotel guests and locals will gather for breakfasts, and in the evening enjoy a dinner menu featuring Russian Nordic cuisine.

With a comprehensive selection of Champagnes, wines and spirits, the Moskovsky Bar is set to make its mark on the city’s dynamic social life. Where by the sophisticated yet informal Silk Lounge flanks either side of the lobby level, with two large welcoming fireplaces offering guests afternoon tea.

An Urban Sanctuary: The Spa at Four Seasons
Up on the Hotel’s fifth floor, the Amnis Spa at Four Seasons will be an exclusive retreat from busy urban life for Hotel guests and day visitors. The Spa features a mosaic-tiled indoor pool, naturally lit from above by a rectangular glass roof, a 24/7 fitness centre as well as a nail bar and a hair salon. The 14 treatment room Spa will offer a menu of massages, facials and body treatments inspired by Russian traditions as well as the latest in international therapies.

The Best Address: Meetings, Events and Weddings at Four Seasons
Whether coming together for business or pleasure, Four Seasons Hotel Moscow promises the exceptional service and attention to detail for which the brand is renowned all over the world. Set apart from the busy ground floor, the Hotel features two ballrooms and five smaller meeting rooms.

As part of its cutting-edge Scion Living lifestyle brand, innovative British interiors company Scion has once again teamed up with the UK’s leading linens specialist, Bedeck, to produce a new collection of exuberant bedlinen and zingy towels.For autumn 2014 the fashion-forward British brand has added two further designs to its vibrant range of own-brand bedlinen, Groove and Diva, both of which are inspired by fabrics in the Soul collection.

Groove: The duvet cover (single, double, king and super king) features a striking over-sized zig-zag in a vibrant mix of colours on the front and a plain turquoise on the reverse. Colours include lime, aqua, indigo, orange, red and pink for a zingy fresh start to your day. The design is piped in purple and the oxford pillowcase matches the duvet cover to continue this vibrant and uplifting theme. The design is printed on 100% cotton. Groove is complemented by a coordinating all-over throw in turquoise with red on the reverse.

Diva: A flamboyant, Op Art-inspired stylised floral, available in a range of sizes of duvet cover with coordinating pillowcases, accessorised by a selection of cushions and throws. The duvet cover (single, double, king and super king) features a fabulously bold and oversized flowerhead, pigment-printed in a vibrant palette of colours on the front and a plain neutral tone on the reverse. Shades include uplifting lime, olive, charcoal, orange, red and pink, piped in black. The oxford pillowcase has a multi-coloured, placed floral and a neutral reverse. The design is printed on 100% cotton. Diva is complemented by a rectangular (30x 60cm) cushion, featuring a printed floral front, plain black reverse
and chartreuse-coloured edging.

To complement the bedlinen Scion Living has also expanded its eclectic range of fun-and funky towels, introducing one brand new design and two additional colourways of existing designs.

The towels, which come in three sizes (guest, hand and bath) of 550gms 100% cotton, will add a touch of lighthearted luxury to the bathroom. Fresh and uplifting, Yoki is a curving geometric ripple, available in three colourways (aqua, pink and turquoise) and made from sumptuous and enveloping terry towelling. There is a new aqua colourway in the ever-popular Mr Fox, in a soft and soothing cotton velour; and a glorious aqua version of Berry Tree in cotton terry.

These fabulously vibrant bedlinens and tactile towels will breathe new life into your bedroom and bathroom, and make boudoir time more blissful than ever!

They will be available throughout the UK via selected stockists from August 2014.

Courtyard by Marriott plans to open its first hotel in Bosnia and Herzegovina next year. The 130-room Courtyard by Marriott Sarajevo is expected to open in mid-2015 and will operate under a franchise agreement with Lake d.o.o. and Interstate Hotels & Resorts. The hotel will be the second Marriott International property in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Residence Inn Sarajevo, which will open in early 2015.Courtyard Sarajevo will feature the brand’s refreshing new European design created to provide business travellers with comfortable and stylish surroundings, integrated technology to promote productivity and 24-hour access to food and drink. The hotel will offer spacious guestrooms with clean lines, an energising Mediterranean colour palette and contemporary, locally inspired furnishings. Multiple, accessible outlets and free high-speed internet will make plugging in and working seamless and easy.

Courtyard Sarajevo guest roomThe spacious lobby area will provide free Wi-Fi, flexible seating for working, meeting and socialising and an interactive GoBoard® screen displaying the latest news, weather and local information. A 24-hour market and Bistro restaurant offer a range of meals, snacks and drinks throughout the day. A conference room, two meeting rooms and a fitness centre complete the hotel facilities.

Courtyard Sarajevo will be located in the city centre with the restaurants, cafes and shops in the attractive old city just ten minutes walking distance via a pedestrian bridge over the Miljacka River. A number of embassies and the Sports and Expo Center, “Center Skenderija”, are located nearby making the hotel an ideal base for business travellers.

Kempinski Hotels officially took over the management of the famous Hôtel Des Milles Collines in Rwanda’s capital Kigali at the beginning of the month. Hôtel Des Milles Collines by Kempinski will be the European luxury hotel company’s ninth hotel operating on the continent, with three more hotels in Africa scheduled to open in the next six months. The hotel, which opened in 1973, was made famous three decades later by the film “Hotel Rwanda” as a place of refuge during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The hotel is now officially part of the Kempinski network. Plans are in place for a major refurbishment to the rooms and restaurants over the next eighteen months to facilitate the full implementation of its signature services and standards.

Located atop a hill in the center of Kigali, the hotel features 112 rooms and suites, meeting and conference facilities including a large conference room for up to 300 people, an outdoor swimming pool, a recreation area and seven boutiques.

The name of the hotel translates as ‘hotel of a thousand hills’, after the lush, hilly landscape of Rwanda that can be seen from the property. Located at the heart of the central business district and a 15-minute drive from Kigali International Airport, Hôtel Des Mille Collines by Kempinski provides quick access to the upcoming Kigali Convention Centre, the Kigali Memorial Centre, and the popular Inema Art Centre. Ideal for business travellers visiting Rwanda during this period of unprecedented growth, as well as for leisure travellers staying pre or post their way to famous gorillas treks.

Home to a third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas Rwanda offers tourists a rare opportunity to observe them in their natural habitat on the luxuriant slopes of the Volcanoes National Park, just a two and a half hour drive from the hotel.

Akagera National Park, known for its “Big Three” and its variety of wildlife; Nyungwe National Park with its dense rain forest, 13 different types of primates and over 200 different tree species; and Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes and one of the 20 deepest in the world, are all within a few hours’ drive from the hotel.

Commenting on the soft opening of Hôtel des Milles Collines by Kempinski, Christoph Strahm, General Manager, said, “This is definitely the right time to be in Rwanda. We experience here a perfect marriage between Hôtel Des Mille Collines, the first grand hotel to open in Rwanda forty years ago, and Kempinski, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel group. Kigali is a remarkable city. The people are warm and generous and we have a great team already in place ready to showcase the unique personality of Hôtel des Milles Collines by Kempinski. We are excited to bring our signature Kempinski service to this city and usher in a renaissance of hospitality in Kigali.”

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Middle England has the best of England. A stone’s throw from the ancient Fosse Way, and a little south of Stratford upon Avon, lies the Cotswold village of Broad Campden; smaller than neighbouring Chipping Campden, not so well known as Moreton in Marsh or Burford, the village has a pub and a church – the standard amenities. But occupying all one side of the main street is The Malt House, some of whose guests still come back to stay long after their first visit. And The Malt House’s charm is evident: in the year since owner-manager June Denton took it on, there have been thirty-two reviews – one was Very Good, and all the rest Excellent.As June says, “We have huge numbers of returning clients, some from decades ago, and they recommend their friends – word of mouth is very valuable to us.”

It was a going concern when June took it on, a year ago, but she knew she could do better. With family funding and other support, she settled into her favourite part of the world. Wise move: it’s a much loved part of the world for very many people, in the UK and internationally.

June – a native of Edinburgh – had always loved the Cotswolds, an affection shared by her sons Peter and Paul, each of whom has a connection with the new enterprise. “It was always the area we were going to adopt as our own,” says June, “no matter what kind of project we developed, or just as a wonderful place to retire to.”

Retirement is the last thing on June’s mind. Her background is not in the hospitality industry at all; but like many of those who make a radical yet successful move into a different field, her qualifications were exactly right, she had all the motivation in the world, and she’d done her research.

“I worked in high-level philanthropy in London, securing funding for major projects, dealing with senior politicians, prominent philanthropists and other major figures. And I’m involved professionally with architecture (The Malt House is Grade II Listed), having worked in connection with some very important buildings such as The Laban dance-centre building in Deptford, which won the Stirling Prize for architecture; and I was a consultant with the Arts Council. So you might say I’m more than qualified in project management!”

June explains. “We came here to take The Malt House onwards & upwards, aiming directly at the luxury end of the market. So we invested heavily in a total refurbishment lasting four months, to bring everything completely up to 21st century standards while retaining the best of The Malt House’s character and history.”

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Hillswood have completed many items of high quality bespoke upholstery in a new build multi million pound private residences project. The lounge area has a 6.50m diameter large semi circular sofa unit which was made to their template, incorporating specially made feather seat and back cushions and has been covered in a Pierre Frey woven fabric. Further images include a special floating seat unit to the kitchen area, which was made with secret fixing giving a floating impression.

Bedroom areas included curved wardrobe doors which Hillswood covered in faux leather with concealed fixings to the interiors of the wardrobe doors. The faux leather had a soft padded feel with the use of dacron.

Hillswood submitted the design for the Master Bedroom special headboard wall, which involved the manufacture of 35 specially upholstered individual panels all covered in Prodital Italian printed leather. The lower panels needed several special cut outs for electrical equipment which were all required to be in predetermined positions prior to site fitting.

Hillswood are able to undertake bespoke upholstery and many passed installations can be viewed on their website under the “Bespoke Seating” heading.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the new 99-room Holiday Inn Express® Fort St. John hotel. Located just off the Alaska Highway in the heart of Fort St. John, the hotel is in close proximity to a variety of recreational facilities and activities including the Pomeroy Sports Centre, which houses two-NHL sized ice rinks and a speed skating oval, Lake Point Golf & Country Club and Charlie Lake Provincial Park.Located at 9504 Alaska Road, the newest addition to IHG’s portfolio in British Columbia features an open concept design and casual atmosphere packed with an array of on-site amenities such as an indoor pool, waterslide, hot tub, fully equipped fitness center, around 1,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a 24-hour business center.

All rooms include a refrigerator, a Keurig® coffee machine, microwave, and 42” HD television. The hotel offers guests a comfortable, affordable stay with innovative, preferred-guest upgrades to ensure a pleasurable experience. Business travelers can also take advantage of the large desks, ergonomic chairs, free local and toll free phone calls with private voicemail, complimentary breakfast and electronic copies of The Globe & Mail®.

Guest rooms will feature contemporary styling, comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast 100% Arabica coffee. The SimplySmart™ shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart™ Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod. Upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and Bath & Body Works White Citrus bath products are also included. Guests will enjoy the SimplySmart™ bedding collection, where they will find crisp, fresh bedding that features an attractive decorative throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft, 200 thread-count sheets.

The Holiday Inn Express Fort St. John hotel, owned by Pomeroy Lodging and managed by Pomeroy Inn & Suites Inc., is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently unveiled designs for Le Méridien New Orleans, a milestone as the French-born brand prepares to return to the Crescent City by end of year. As part of the strategic conversion plan of the former W New Orleans, the property has now transitioned to the Hotel New Orleans Downtown for the remainder of its $29 million renovation. Managed by Starwood Hotels, the Hotel New Orleans Downtown will remain open and fully operational as well as a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program until Le Méridien débuts this winter.Le Méridien New Orleans will feature 410 fully renovated guestrooms and corridors as well as a fully redesigned lobby experience, incorporating the signature Le Méridien Hub, a new destination restaurant and bar, and re-concepted second floor flexible meeting space. The hotel will continue to feature premium amenities such as the modern fitness facility, rooftop pool, and more than 15,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event space.

Designed by New York-based Meyer Davis, the inspiration for the hotel’s design incorporates the mid-century aesthetic of Le Méridien layered with contextual influences from the city of New Orleans. Design elements and patterns within the hotel draw from the architectural features of the city, including the iconic wrought iron work seen throughout the Big Easy. Cultural references from the Mardi Gras parade route to quotes from one of the city’s most famous sons – Louis Armstrong – layer the design with a lens that is both uniquely Le Méridien and specific to New Orleans.

Wall coverings along the guestroom corridors have been inspired by the cartography of New Orleans with hidden quotes about the city incorporated into the custom pattern. As one moves from the corridor into the guestroom, the entry is wrapped in a graphic design that represents crowd densities along the Mardi Gras route. This theme of subtle nuances continues throughout the design of the guestroom, creating a unique design for Le Méridien New Orleans. A drafting height desk anchors one side of the room– allowing guests to work as a creative designer works – while a soaring headboard draws from the profiles of moldings found throughout the city. The guestrooms’ cool neutral tones with subtle touches of accent colors create a calm reprieve from the bustling city beyond.

Le Méridien New Orleans will feature the signature Le Méridien Hub™, which reinterprets 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; a 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 by French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague. The Hub features 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.

Located on Poydras Street, the hotel is adjacent to the Arts District and just a few blocks from the jazz clubs, restaurants and night clubs of the world-famous French Quarter. Nearby attractions include Harrah’s Casino, the Warehouse District, Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans Museum of Art, Riverwalk Shopping and the French Market.

The colours of the Mediterranean glow in the mid-summer sunlight – yes I was reminded today that we are past the longest day and the nights are drawing in again. It didn’t feel like that as I walked to the beach or leaped off the launch into the ocean, and the bougainvillea was full of bees and butterflies enjoying the height of summer celebration in the gorgeous plants’ vibrant petals. At first it was just the light quality at dusk. It made the colours fluoresce, red-violet against green with an intensity that quite took my breath away. The next day I saw that although not the dominant plant in the hotels gardens it was the most dramatic in the way it shone out against the competing oleanders.The colours used in the building architecture cleverly also sang against the brilliance of sunlight and the Mediterranean blue skies. My enjoyment of all this was nearly cut short when in an absent minded moment I dived off the launch wearing my spectacles. In three meters of English waters they would have been gone forever especially as the boat had powered away from the immediate vicinity in the little bay of Cala Napoletana. In the clear Mediterranean waters visibility was excellent so Antonello the boat man proved up to the challenge. Under the admiring looks of the female reporters he stripped off his shirt and dived in, returning to the surface triumphantly holding my glasses aloft, instantly becoming a hero to us all – well to me any rate, to others, it seemed, maybe an object of desire…???

We were on the boat from one Delphina Hotel to another, avoiding the narrow twisting roads (and Italian driving too of course). This luxury chain has eight four and five star hotels on Sardinia, beautifully located overlooking the coastline with its secret beaches and rocky coves, on the edge of a marine reserve that is a divers delight. Sardinia has a pink granite rock a little like Jersey’s but unlike Jersey it is washed by warm seas with very little tidal rise and fall, allowing the permanent beach provision of umbrellas, sunbathing platforms, bars etc. unthreatened most of the year by the sea itself. In Sardinia the towns build right to the sea, unlike England where they hide behind beach defences and sea walls.New legislation prevents any building close to the shore line but many hotels and towns go to the waters edge as they predate this law.

Hotel and leisure entrepreneurs in Scotland who want to capitalise on the growth generated by the XXth Commonwealth Games and other events taking place in Scotland have received a boost from Santander Corporate & Commercial, which is making £100m of funding available to these sectors this year. As Scotland prepares to host the Games, the Ryder Cup and to support Homecoming Scotland 2014, Santander Corporate & Commercial has already lent more than £30m to hotel and leisure businesses in Scotland in the first half of 2014. Ahead of the opening of the Games on 23 July, the bank has now committed to making a further £70m of funding available during the remainder of this year to support a strong post-Games legacy in these sectors.

Santander has been a consistent supporter of businesses across the UK; business lending over the last four years growing by an average of 20% per year and continues to focus on growing local relationship banking. The bank opened a new business centre in Inverness earlier this year and will move to new, larger business centres in Aberdeen in July, Edinburgh in November, and in Dundee before the end of 2014.

Kevin Boyd, Divisional Managing Director – Scotland, Northern Ireland & North East England at Santander Corporate & Commercial, said: “Scotland has long been home to businesses which are characterised by their innovation and determination to succeed, and we are committed to helping them achieve their ambitions. The XXth Commonwealth Games and other great events this year are having a strong impact on the Scottish hotels and leisure sectors, which look set to continue to be a positive contributor to Scotland’s economy.

“Entrepreneurs are building on the interest generated by these events and their legacy by investing in existing businesses, launching new ones, and so creating long term employment opportunities. We’ve supported businesses in these sectors with facilities ranging from £12,000 to more than £13 million so far this year.”

The bank has also set up a dedicated helpline for businesses in the country which want to talk to Santander Corporate & Commercial about how they capitalise on growth in the country. The number is 05511 477407.

As an approved supplier for Wetherspoon, Wilton Carpets Commercial has manufactured bespoke carpet for The Rose Salterne, one of the chain’s newest establishments in the north Devon port town of Bideford. With a reputation for respectfully and tastefully converting landmark buildings in towns right across the UK into public houses, Wetherspoon has transformed the former site of Bideford Grammar School, seeking inspiration from the mid-century modernist era during which the current building was constructed.

Turning to Wilton Carpets Commercial design department, the interior design practice responsible for the transformation commissioned a design that took inspiration from the textures of Bideford, using a colour scheme inspired by the north Devon landscape. With approximately 300 square metres of nine-row woven axminster fitted throughout the main areas of the pub, the shell design carpet is used as a unifying element within the interior:

“We looked to the history of Bideford and the site of The Rose Salterne itself to provide inspiration for the interior scheme,” comments the interior design practice responsible. “Breaking up the pub into areas reflecting the site history, we’ve incorporated slate on the walls to represent the town’s trade and commissioned local resident artists for works that adorn the walls. The main customer area introduces elements from the grand houses of the prosperous merchants of the town while the toilets echo a vintage 60s theme. The carpet really helps to unify these areas and as such is an important design element.”

Originally conceptualised as an over-scale pattern, the scale of the shell design went through several iterations to provide a carpet that met with the exacting requirements of the designer, but that would also work to reduce wastage within the layout. The 80% wool 20% nylon carpet was installed by Floor Furnishings, Cardiff and was manufactured at Wilton Carpets Commercial’s Wiltshire production site, helping to minimise transportation and impact.

Roman has significantly upgraded its presence on CAD, ensuring its entire range is accessible on the latest, 3D interactive platform − Virtual Worlds Professional from Logicom.The result is a major boost for Roman’s extensive nationwide network of retailers. They are now able to design specifying from the complete Roman range, including enclosures, showers and accessories, using the latest CAD technology. This will allow them to create bathroom designs faster and more accurately than ever before.

Roman has committed to an on-going programme of 3D modelling with Virtual Worlds, so as to ensure its CAD product catalogues are always current and comprehensive.

David Osborne, Managing Director of Roman, commented: “Virtual Worlds CAD is now a vital tool for our retailers to allow them to effectively present all our products in 3D, real room set situation and inspire their customers. The visual bathroom representation that Virtual Worlds presents is critical for customers making a purchasing decision and improves the whole customer experience. We are confident that our collaboration with Virtual Worlds will further enhance our retailers’ sales performance.”

Virtual Worlds Professional is the 3D interactive CAD design package which brings to life designers’ creative ideas. Users design in 3D, producing a room which is life-like from the out-set. The Roman catalogue will include all the latest functions, including product image previews for ease of searching, automated connection points, an upgraded rendering facility and area lighting.