Hotel Designs

JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts has expanded its luxury portfolio in South Korea with the unveiling of the new 170-room JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul. The new hotel is the second JW Marriott to open in Seoul and the first hotel in the city to receive LEED Gold certification. Marriott International manages the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul under a long-term agreement with the owner, Dong Sung Co., Ltd.Featuring a stylish urban facade and interior that exude elegance, warm luxury and minimalist sophistication, the property is the first international luxury business hotel in Dongdaemun. Ideally located in the heart of Seoul’s fashion district and adjacent to the subway station and key tourist attractions, the new JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul boasts unobstructed views of Korea’s number one national treasure – the historical Dongdaemun or “East Gate.”

The new hotel has 170 guestrooms, including 19 Executive Sky View Rooms and 15 Suites. A dedicated Executive Lounge with an open balcony serves the Executive Floor rooms. Among the hotel’s extensive health and fitness facilities are an indoor 25-meter lap pool, the exclusive Club 501 Fitness Centre and the indulgent The JW Spa.

The hotel’s innovative food and beverage program is curated by a stellar team of award-winning professionals from France, Germany, the US and Korea. Among the highlights is BLT Steak, of the internationally renowned New York steakhouse; Tavolo 24, a casual all-day dining restaurant featuring live cooking stations; The Lounge which specializes in artisan chocolates, martinis and afternoon tea and Seoul Baking Company, which servesfresh cakes and pastries from its open kitchen. For visitors and locals alike, the roof-top Griffin Bar overlooking the East Gate, is set to become one of the most sought after social scenes in the city where guests can sit outside and enjoy stunning views.

With a total of 10,570 square feet of meeting space and a Grand Ballroom that can accommodate up to 750 guests, the hotel is the perfect choice for the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market. Among its state-of-the-art meetings facilities is Seoul’s first LFD (Large Format Display) 98-screen media wall.

The recent refurbishment at the Hotel Die Halde Oberried had to be carried out with extreme caution as this real estate has a history of more than 700 years. Behind the facade of the historic building the guests find all amenities of a modern hotel, including a brand new Spa area. The guestrooms offer a modest design with luminaires from the range of Baulmann Leuchten Sundern.

The hotel design focuses on nature, drawing inspiration from the nearby Black Forest through the use of domestic woods and fresh colours to create a relaxing and warming atmosphere for its guests. For more information on the hotel, click here.

All pictures are copyright by “Hotel Die Halde Oberried”.

Hotels are special places with special demands on designers, contractors and manufacturers serving the refurbishment and new build markets. Subject to much abuse by guests, hotels have to withstand a level of use rarely seen in domestic environments, and with potentially ruinous consequences for designers, suppliers and the hotel itself if mistakes are made.

Hotels rely on letting their rooms. Seems obvious to state this but it must be ever present in designers minds, and in the thinking of contractors and contract suppliers too. For the designer it brings an understanding of the need to programme the work so that a completion date is met. This would involve not only the actual build time but knowing the delivery periods for all the FF&E items, and what order they need to be installed in the rooms, who installs them etc..
In setting a date for handover to the hotel the designer has to be conscious that as soon as an hotel manager is given a date for handover they will be letting rooms. Rooms are often let months in advance so mangers will be looking for handover dates from the beginning of projects on refurbishment. This demands that the designer coordinates work from tender stage on, in close harmony with their contractor, to ensure that named dates are achieved, as if not the penalty may be that the hotel has to be compensated for its loss of profit.

Nothing angers hotel management more than having guest booked in and the rooms not available. Not only does it create relationship problems with guests, but the hotel may have to find rooms for them with a competitor hotel with the attendant risk that the guest transfers their loyalty to the other hotel. As designer relationships with hotels have the potential for being long term ( my own practice had continuing working relationships with some hoteliers for over 30 years) then it is wise for the designer to anticipate and remove problems before the hotel becomes aware they exist. Make no mistake, investors may make decisions and choose a design practice, but if a designer offends the GM the working relationship with the hotel WILL break down.

In creating a work programme the designer needs honest responses and a good straight forward relationship with the producers of the FF&E items and the contractor. No-one can live with exaggerated promises on delivery dates or site performance if they cannot be realised. Whilst the size of orders and potential for repeat orders may be attractive for a manufacturer, no designers will go back to a company that lets them down in this market – their professional reputations are too valuable, and the penalties for non-delivery too high.

So Rule 1: Never promise what you can’t deliver, always deliver on what you promise.

The Malaysian hotel group is continuing to expand its portfolio of hotels in London with the opening of Tune Hotel Canary Wharf in November 2014.

The hotel will boast 130 bedrooms, including twin, double and accessible rooms and will be perfectly positioned within a five minute walk of Canary Wharf tube station and a two minute walk from West India Quay DLR, ideal for city workers, business travellers and holidaymakers alike. The latest property from the hotel chain will stay true to the brand by offering exceptionally low prices to customers, without compromising on standards. It will also showcase a new style of innovative room space designed especially for the needs of business travellers.

Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels, commented: “Introducing the fifth hotel to the capital is a significant business move for us. The demand for a low cost hotel in Canary wharf that offers good quality basics and importantly a great night’s sleep is becoming ever more important as tourists and business travellers are swayed by price but unwilling to trade down on standards.”

Tune Hotels is a growing chain of properties that have embraced the limited service model used by low cost airlines. All Tune Hotels feature space‐efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high‐quality basics: five-star Hypnos beds and powerful hot showers.

The strategically located hotels provide housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, 24 hour reception, CCTV systems, and no access into the main lobby without a keycard past midnight.

Tanja Haug has designed a ski chalet for property developers Realitalia in Limone Piemonte, one of Italy’s oldest ski areas about 100km south of Turin near the border of France.The chalet’s idyllic Alpine setting inspired the interior design, using natural materials throughout. The result is any skier’s idea of bliss: stone and wood walls, heavily beamed ceilings, and furniture and lighting made from antique salvaged wood.

The chalet’s environmental credentials are noteworthy. The stone used to build the chalet, for example, was salvaged from a nearby baita – or mountain hut – that was demolished.

Special lighting was commissioned and an impressive chandelier was made from the roots of a tree. This now hangs over the dining table in the chalet. Corten steel was used for the stairs and balustrades, which now have the most beautiful patina.

The chalet’s furniture was made to measure, much of it constructed from antique wood. A Bodema sofa in the living room was covered in specially treated leather to give it an antique look but also a soft and warm touch. Chairs were covered in Alcantara.

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Fort Capital, the Miami-based private real estate investment company, announced yesterday it has entered into an agreement with Four Seasons, the world’s leading luxury hospitality company, to brand and manage The Surf Club, a 9-acre property on the Atlantic Ocean in Surfside, Florida which Fort Capital acquired in 2012. Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club will have approximately 80 rooms, and incorporate a historic Russell Pancoast-designed building. The Surf Club Four Seasons Private Residences will comprise 150 homes and penthouses in two 12-story towers. Both will offer the intuitive, customized service that is the hallmark of Four Seasons. Richard Meier & Partners, in association with KKAID, is the design architect for the project.

The legendary Surf Club, was founded in 1930 by Harvey Firestone as a private membership club. It will soon join a growing portfolio of historic and architecturally important Four Seasons hotels, including the landmark Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris; the lavishly restored Palazzo and Giardino della Gherardesca at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze; and the majestic Four Seasons Hotel Lion Palace St. Petersburg, housed in a meticulously restored 19th century palace.

The Surf Club boasts 965 feet of Atlantic oceanfront on a 9-acre site which will incorporate the hotel; two residential towers; a private membership club; two restaurants; four swimming pools; a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center; more than 40 beach cabanas; and an expansive park and oceanside gardens. The Richard Meier Signature Homes and Penthouses, ranging in size from 1400 to almost 8000 square feet, will offer residents extraordinary views stretching from the Atlantic to downtown Miami, with interiors and finishes personally selected by Mr. Meier. The design for the buildings utilize his decisive and iconic visual vocabulary — glass walls, capacious volumes of space, a sensitivity to the movement of natural light throughout the day, and sumptuous yet elemental materials. This is Mr. Meier’s first project in the Miami area.

“When we acquired The Surf Club in 2012, our goal was to augment the property’s natural beauty and storied past with the intelligent, purposeful design of Richard Meier to create an elegant, amenity-rich residential and hospitality experience,” noted Nadim Ashi, CEO of Fort Capital. “By partnering with Four Seasons, we are going to ensure that Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club and The Surf Club Four Seasons Private Residences will consistently deliver the highest caliber of service. Their expertise, track-record and fully-integrated bespoke service will provide owners and guests with an unmatched lifestyle of luxury and ease. Richard Meier & Partners in association with KKAID, have created buildings which will become iconic additions to the Surfside landscape.”

“We move forward with opportunities only if we are confident we have the right location and the right partner – a partner who shares our vision for success,” said Scott Woroch, Executive Vice President Worldwide Development, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “We are excited to partner with Fort Capital and Richard Meier – visionaries who have embraced the Surf Club’s rich history and provenance while boldly reimagining its future.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity to grow our portfolio in Florida, a key growth market for Four Seasons,” continued Woroch. “Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club will be a dynamic complement to our existing properties in Florida – Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach and Four Seasons Hotel Miami, as well as the highly anticipated Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort opening this summer.”
Richard Meier commented, “The Surf Club offers a unique opportunity to create an important addition to the built environment, one which affects a balance between the natural beauty of the expansive oceanfront site, and the desire for a new definition of luxury. Incorporating the historic structure; remaining sensitive to the gracious, low-rise context of Surfside, Florida; and further exploring the relationship between structure and sea has been a wonderful project for the firm. With the addition of Four Seasons, I feel confident that the homes and penthouses we have created will be enjoyed to their fullest”.

Coastal Construction is serving as general contractor on the project. Construction commenced in late 2013 and is on schedule to be completed in early 2016.

Kimpton’s iconic Washington D.C. hotel, The George, has announced the completion of a multi-million pound renovation and redesign. The renovation of The George covers all 139 guest rooms and suites, hallway corridors and lifts, which will now flow seamlessly with the artful, contemporary design of the hotel’s recently refreshed living room, gallery, and meeting spaces.“We’re thrilled with the results of the renovation and so are our guests. The new rooms are modern, upscale, and will keep us on the map as the premier hotel for business and leisure on Capitol Hill,” said Ben Timashenka, Director of Operations for Kimpton’s Washington, D.C. hotels.

CBT, an interior, architecture and urban-design firm specialising in luxury hospitality design, was hired to re-imagine The George’s design and capture the presidential spirit of the hotel. Starting with the guest rooms, the redesign features a sophisticated, crisp colour palette with rich accents of warm blues, browns, and beige, as well as contemporary references to American history, reflected in the parchment and ink graphic wallpaper depicting George Washington’s handwritten inaugural address.

The hotel’s premier guest room, The Presidential Suite, received stylish updates including new furniture and an accent rug illustrating Washington’s inaugural address in the separate sitting area, custom impressionist-style portraits of George and Martha Washington, and a luxurious new free-standing soaking tub and marble shower.

From the 2014 American Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that it expects another year of robust growth in North America with approximately 30 new hotels slated to open by year’s end, driven by the rapid proliferation of its Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft brands and a surge in conversions across several of its brands, including Le Méridien, which is experiencing strong development momentum. In 2013, Starwood opened 33 new hotels and signed 52 new hotel deals in North America, up 27% over signings the previous year and the most signed since before the global economic crisis. “Starwood remains extremely bullish about its growth prospects in North America, which is still our largest market, comprising over 50% of our existing global portfolio,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “We now have a total of 577 hotels in North America and expect record low supply and growing demand to continue driving growth.”

“Starwood will open about one-third of its new hotels in North America in 2014, reflecting the continued strength of our brands in this important market,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North America Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Owners and developers are showing increased interest in conversions and new builds under one of Starwood’s brands in order to tap into Starwood’s powerful network, global booking platforms and loyal customer base.”

Starwood’s Specialty Select Brands are Driving Starwood’s Growth in North America
Starwood’s “Specialty Select” brands – Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element – are leading Starwood’s growth in North America and account for approximately 75% of new hotel openings in the region in 2014. As a group, these brands have grown 80% globally since 2008 and are on track to surpass 200 hotels in North America this year.

Four Points by Sheraton signed nearly twice as many deals over the past five years in North America than any other Starwood brand. Fueled by its successful positioning emphasizing uncomplicated comfort and timeless style, Four Points will open 12 new hotels in North America in 2014, nearly all conversions. Key 2014 openings include the first Four Points in Charleston, West Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; and Surrey, British Columbia; as well as its second in Nashville, Tennessee and the fourth in Manhattan. Boasting the second largest global pipeline among all of Starwood brands, Four Points by Sheraton will open its 200th hotel worldwide this year as it nears its 125th milestone in North America.

Starwood’s stylish Aloft brand will surpass 60 hotels in North America this year. Aloft signed 16 new hotel deals in North America in 2013 – the most of any Starwood brand in the region and the highest number since 2008. While the majority of Aloft hotels coming online are new builds, the brand is also attracting a growing number of adaptive re-use projects and conversions. This year, Aloft will enter numerous new markets with eight new hotel openings in North America including two more adaptive re-use projects, Aloft Tampa Downtown and Aloft Detroit, and two conversions, Aloft Atlanta Downtown and Aloft Calgary University. Other key openings will include Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown – Bricktown, Aloft Buffalo Airport, Aloft Denver Downtown, and Aloft Manhattan Downtown – Financial District.

Element, Starwood’s trailblazing, eco-wise brand, is picking up momentum with three openings planned for North America this year in Harrison, New Jersey; Hanover, New Hampshire; and Fargo, North Dakota, plus its first in Europe in Frankfurt, Germany. Element will open its 15th hotel in North America in 2015 including its first in Orlando, second in the Miami metropolitan area, and second in Canada – Element Vancouver Metrotown. In 2016, the brand will add two more hotels in Canada.

Upper Upscale and Luxury Brands Enjoy Strong Position and Sustained Growth
Starwood’s robust portfolio of upper-upscale hotels under its Le Méridien, Westin and Sheraton flags are poised for another year of robust growth. In 2013, Le Méridien signed more hotels worldwide in one year since Starwood acquired the brand in 2005, driven by accelerating demand in North America. In 2014, the brand expects to open more hotels worldwide in one year since the brand was acquired, including five openings in the United States with two adaptive re-use projects, Le Méridien Tampa and Le Méridien Chicago-Oakbrook Center. Le Méridien will also launch a brand-new lifestyle development in Columbus, Ohio and open two conversions this year: Le Méridien Indianapolis, which has transformed a historic downtown hotel, and Le Méridien Charlotte, part of a dual-hotel development along with the already opened Sheraton Charlotte Hotel.

Starwood’s Westin brand, known for the resounding success of its wellness positioning, will reach its 200th milestone worldwide in 2014. Westin will open two new hotels this year in the United States: The Westin Wilmington on the city’s revitalized waterfront, and The Westin Cleveland Downtown. In 2015, the brand will reach the 125th hotel milestone in North America with openings planned for Denver, CO; Bethesda, MD; Austin, TX; San Jose, CA; Jackson, MS; and Jekyll Island, GA.

Sheraton, Starwood’s largest brand, will return to the Dominican Republic this year with the opening of Sheraton Santo Domingo. The global hotel icon opened five conversion properties and signed seven deals in North America in 2013. Of those deals, four were conversion properties that opened within the year.
Starwood continues to lead the luxury segment globally and boasts one of the strongest North American luxury portfolios in the industry under its St. Regis, W Hotels and Luxury Collection brands. This year, Starwood will open The St. Anthony, A Luxury Collection Hotel, San Antonio, an external conversion and the company’s fourth luxury property and first Luxury Collection property in Texas. In 2013, St. Regis Hotels unveiled its newly refurbished brand flagship, The St. Regis New York, while W Hotels completed renovations at W New York – Union Square and W Dallas.

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

The Caltongate development for the Edinburgh’s Historic Old Town has been approved by councillors following an 18-month consultation period. Global property advisers, Colliers International, advised Artisan Real Estate Investors, the international development consortium behind the development. Work could start as soon as mid-2014.Centred around a new £6.5 million civic square, Artisan’s new development will create around 16,500 sq. metres of high quality grade A office space and 28 new retail businesses, as well as the hotel and leisure space. There are also plans for a new community facility, together with 145 residential units and 40 affordable homes. The scheme links the capital’s New Street/East Market Street area and Waverley Station with the historic Royal Mile.

A deal was agreed in December to bring two Whitbread hotels to the five-acre site, including a 128-room Premier Inn and a 130-room Hub by Premier Inn, Whitbread’s innovative new ‘compact’ hotel format which will be the first of its kind outside of London.

The economic benefit of this new development is estimated to bring in £43m to the local economy each year, as well as creating almost 2,000 jobs.

Marc Finney, Head of Hotels International at Colliers International, who advised Artisan on the project and secured the hotel deal with Whitbread PLC, said, “The levels of interest in this scheme from across the spectrum of hotel and apart-hotel operators, both nationally and internationally, highlighted the tremendous value this development will bring to Edinburgh and the high-profile transformation for the Caltongate area.”

Lukas Nakos, Artisan’s managing director said: “This has been an exceptional planning approval for an exceptional development. Today marks a significant milestone in the evolution of one of the most challenging city centre developments anywhere in the UK, and we now have the opportunity to deliver on our promises made when we first started this process, more than two years ago.

“Our proposals are the result of an 18-month consultation process bringing together local people, businesses, civic partners and heritage bodies. This has led to many facets of the area’s unique Old Town setting being retained to preserve the character of the development, including the retention of the Canongate Venture building and the façade of the Old Sailor’s Ark.”

He added: “Artisan will now bring international capital investment of £150 million to the table, coupled with the vision and commitment needed to complete what has already been started. We now have the opportunity to create, in the very heart of Edinburgh, one of Europe’s most exciting and vibrant mixed-use communities which will set an international benchmark for sensitive and innovative development.”

The Gleneagles® Hotel is pleased to announce the official re-launch of The Club, the culmination of 12 months’ work and a £5million investment. The refurbishment sees the hotel’s leisure complex upgraded and enhanced to create an even more luxurious space to escape, relax and unwind. The refurbishment was led by the Gleneagles team and renowned London interior designers Sedley Place, and coincides with the hotel’s 90th anniversary in 2014. The new-look Club features a refreshed reception with a viewing gallery overlooking the pool hall, and waiting area with comfortable seating for visitors. The ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ stairs connecting the various levels allow swimmers and gym users to remain separated. The changing facilities have been enlarged with more lockers, vanity tables and added space for adult and toddler changing cubicles.

With the clever use of mood lighting and quiet deck-level loungers, the former lap pool has now been transformed into an adult zone with a more calming atmosphere. This area comes with the latest heat experiences including a jacuzzi-style tub, sauna and steam room, and heated loungers arranged around a water font. The existing leisure pool has been completely remodelled, with a waterfall feature, fun bubble jet crossing and bubble pool for all the family to enjoy. The introduction of a glazed screen wall constructed from insulated, thermally efficient glass, provides better acoustics and improved insulation in the pool hall.

Undergoing a complete transformation, the old outdoor pool is now an ‘Alpine Onsen’. This combines the look and feel of a hot mountain pool with the tranquillity of a highland landscape. A prominent theme, the ‘rushes’ and reeds pattern motif has been incorporated throughout The Club design.

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Jones Lang LaSalle’s Global Hotel Investor Outlook 2013 shows that the UK remains the leading market for hotel investment, attracting 37 per cent share of EMEA hotel investment volume in 2013. Trading and sentiment has improved and market confidence has been boosted by a number of key global investors underwriting the U.K. market through portfolio acquisitions and refinancings, notably the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Starwood Capital, KSL Capital Partners and Mount Kellett. The report forecasts that a continued sell-down of over leveraged assets in control of the lenders and disposals by private equity funds reaching the end of their life-cycle, will bolster hotel investment volumes by 20 per cent in 2014. This will also be aided by the increasing appetite of UK domestic banks such as RBS, Lloyds and Barclays, as well as overseas banks such as the Bank of China and a number of Middle Eastern banks, to lend to the hotel sector.

Revenue per available room (RevPar) in London is expected to rise by c.4 per cent in 2014, a more positive result than 2013 when London trading was impacted by additional supply and by comparison to the Olympic year. An additional 45 properties, with approximately 6,000 rooms, are set to enter the London market in 2014. 60 per cent of these are within the budget sector and will continue to challenge trading performance. Regional U.K. hotels are also expected to see some top line growth although the challenge here remains at the profit level, with costs often increasing faster than revenue. However, the speed of GDP growth should underpin business confidence and drive rate growth through a shift in room segmentation.

Jonathan Hubbard, CEO Northern Europe for Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, said: “The familiarity and maturity of the UK will provide good opportunities for investors in 2014 and will drive more value. As a result of this, we will see competition heating up and investors that miss out on the prime core market opportunities will start to focus on the secondary markets in those countries where they will tap broader opportunities and better returns. It’s a very positive picture for the EMEA region and particularly for London and the UK.”

The MainStay Suites Charlotte North, located off Arrowood Road near the airport at 7926 Forest Pine Drive, is undergoing a large renovation. The 77-room extended stay hotel, owned and managed by The Generation Companies, a real estate developer, owner, asset manager and operator of extended stay hotels, is updating its décor and adding new furniture. The extensive renovation includes installing new flat screen TVs, carpet and bedding; freshening bathrooms with new paint; refreshing kitchen and bathroom cabinets; upgrading the continental breakfast area with new, colourful dishware and containers; and improving the quality of its high-speed Internet. The hotel will finish the renovation with new artwork and sleeper sofas. Most of the renovation will be complete by March. “We want to provide our customers, mostly extended stay business and transient corporate guests, with an enhanced experience,” said Rick Stroud, Regional Operations Manager of The Generation Companies. “Our large, spacious guest rooms are a big selling point. We wanted to update them and our hallways with a fresh, contemporary look and more modern selections.”

The MainStay Suites extended stay guest rooms feature a fully-equipped kitchen, a large work area with bright task lighting and free high-speed Internet access. The pet-friendly hotel provides a business centre, fitness centre, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, on-site guest laundry and outdoor heated swimming pool. The hotel is conveniently located near Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte Convention Centre, Carowinds amusement park and Carolina Place Mall.

Modern Luxury, White Star History One of the most iconic historical buildings in Liverpool, which has remained unused for the past 10 years, is set to get a new lease of life as a luxury hotel which has a stylish nod to its famous history. The former headquarters of the White Star Line – one of the world’s biggest shipping lines most well-known as owners of the ill-fated Titanic liner – on James Street in Liverpool will become a 11 storey luxury hotel accommodating up to 310 guests to be called 30 James Street – Home of the Titanic, in 2014 after being bought by Signature Living.

Signature Living, Liverpool’s premium provider of leisure and corporate accommodation with a series of luxury themed serviced accommodations in the centre of Liverpool will invest £7m to renovate the building which was constructed between 1896 and 1898 by the architect Norman Shaw.

Notably the building is an exact copy (It is based upon through colour and stone work, yet the footprint is quite different) of Scotland Yard – which was considered to be one of the most exciting pieces of architecture of its time.

With the help of historian Paul Louden-Brown and after months of research Lawrence and Katie Kenwright, the duo behind Signature Living, have combined the history of the building with elements of construction and design to ensure that every area of 30 James Street takes guests on a journey through the history of the building, making it more than just a hotel.

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Visitors to a North East pub will soon be able to spend the night in style thanks to a £150,000 refurbishment. Work is now underway to transform the living quarters at the Lambton Worm, Chester-le-Street, into stylish bed and breakfast accommodation for pub patrons and outside guests.

The rooms, which are due for completion by April 2014, will include 12 standard en-suites, as well as two larger suites with whirlpool baths, all individually decorated and fitted with solid mahogany rococo furniture.

The Lambton Worm on North Road was saved from closure in 2012, when it was bought by leading leisure firm Tavistock Leisure and re-launched following a £500,000 investment.

It now operates as a brewpub for the Sonnet 43 microbrewery in Coxhoe, serving a wide range of craft beers, as well as a selection of classical British food, made with a modern twist.

The owners hope that this latest development will appeal not only to pubgoers but to tourists visiting the surrounding area.

Mark Hird, Managing Director of Tavistock Leisure and Sonnet 43, said: “The Lambton Worm is in a great position, offering easy access to the County Durham countryside, as well as all the attractions of Durham city and Durham County Cricket Club.

“By diversifying from a brewery tap to a boutique bed and breakfast we hope to maximise this opportunity and appeal to a local, national and international clientele.”

The Lambton Worm is one of three brewery taps now run by Sonnet 43 brew house, with sister sites also open in Coxhoe and Hebburn. This will be the first with bedrooms.

Bashar Wali, President of Provenance Hotels, has recently announced the completion of a major renovation of the guest room floors at Hotel Lucia in Portland. The project, at a price of more than $2.3 million, brings a brand new look and feel to the guest room corridors and 127 sleeping rooms with new furniture, lighting, drapery, and carpet in every room. It also includes a guest room technology package designed to make being connected at Hotel Lucia fast, easy and intuitive.In Hotel Lucia’s guest rooms, the feeling of luxury and spaciousness has been enhanced with artfully scaled, custom designed furniture made of rosewood. A timber prized for its rich hues and dramatic grain, rosewood is typically employed in the production of small handcrafted items like guitars. At Hotel Lucia, it was used to create sleek, modern bed frames with integrated headboards and nightstands. Spanning the entire wall behind each bed, these functional yet dramatic elements are topped with Starphire glass in a milky mint hue. New rosewood dressers feature the same glass on the drawer fronts and side tables and desks made of rosewood are topped with it as well. This new furniture provides a warm visual pop against freshly painted white walls, textured wall treatments in a cool, grey tweed pattern and plush midnight blue carpet featuring a wavy, organic grey grid pattern.

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Accor announces the opening of Pullman Shanghai South, the second Pullman hotel in Shanghai and the 15th in China. Strategically located in the heart of Shanghai South, the hotel offers a vibrant, cosmopolitan and in-style guest experience to meet the needs of today’s hyper-connected travellers for whom the line between work and leisure has become blurred.

Connected with a shopping mall, a supermarket and an office building in the Star Plaza commercial complex, Pullman Shanghai South is the newest choice that appeals to travellers for both business and leisure. The 23-storey hotel offers 338 well-appointed rooms & suites and convenient access to Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai South Railway Station, Shanghai Stadium and Caohejing High-tech Park. Xujiahui, one of the city’s most visited commercial precincts is also within easy reach for dining, shopping and entertainment.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted by Pullman Welcomers who will remain their key contact throughout the stay for inquiries and assistance.

Guest rooms and suites spanning from 40 to 406 square meters are designed for well-being and pleasure. The signature Pullman bedding, an innovative concept offers ultra-comfort, based on cutting-edge research into sleep and materials. The Bois d’Orange scent by Roger & Gallet amenities, a prestigious French brand is available in each room. Other in-room facilities include a walk-in shower with a rain shower head, a large desk, complimentary high speed Wi-Fi access, a connectivity panel, an LED TV with international channels and a docking station.

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Following the positive news regarding the FCO lifting its advice against all but essential travel to the whole of Egypt, the recent incidents in Cairo surrounding the third anniversary of the uprising, should not overshadow Egypt’s world class appeal as a tourist destination.Omayma El Husseini, ETA’s Director of UK & Ireland, stated, “While there have been incidents in Cairo, they have been in Cairo alone. With the exception of North Sinai, the remainder of Egypt is a safe destination for tourists to travel to, explore and enjoy.”

Commenting on the ETA’s plans moving forward, El Husseini said, “We are engaging in long-term initiatives that focus on investment opportunities in the tourism industry to ensure that our integrated tourism plan provides an enhanced and safe offering for all tourists. Specifically, this includes measures such as upgrading infrastructure, enhancing road security by training tourist bus drivers, and providing extensive training programmes to all levels of staff in the tourism sector.”

Furthermore, the ETA has organised a comprehensive programme of visits by overseas tourism officials in key markets to meet their counterparts to discuss the industry and for the plans to be relayed back to their respective country’s tourism sector. As one of the four key sources of national income, Egypt’s global tourism programme will see the development of niche markets including golf, spa and wellness, classical tourism and diving.

“Egypt has invested in an aggressive promotional campaign in the UK & Ireland to promote the country as an attractive and safe destination. The UK was only down by five percent in terms of tourist arrivals in 2013, demonstrating that the British market has a resilient passion for all that Egypt has to offer.”

“2014 is a key year for all Egyptians who are looking towards political stability, security and the enhancement of the livelihoods of the country’s population,” concluded El Husseini.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announces the opening of the Crowne Plaza® JFK Airport New York City hotel. The property has undergone a significant multi-million dollar renovation funded by ERG JFK Hotel, LLC, featuring a unique interior design with runway murals on the lobby ceilings, guest room carpets and accent walls, and a modern glass design for the exterior façade. Located at 138-10 135th Ave., this nine-story Crowne Plaza hotel is the brand’s seventh in the metro New York City area. The hotel offers amenities that make it easy to get work done and that help guests unwind and relax, like complimentary Internet access, free parking, extended dining and bar service hours, a well-equipped fitness center, a zen room for yoga and meditation and the brand’s Sleep Advantage® program.

The hotel has 330 guestrooms, including five one-bedroom suites and 14 junior suites, and is the only JFK airport hotel to offer a Presidential Suite. Guests will enjoy the upscale and sophisticated bar and lounge services as well as a 24-hour lobby market, “Jet”, offering freshly-made sandwiches, salads and snacks. Approximately 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting space is available, including ten meeting rooms and a ballroom.

The hotel’s Idlewild Restaurant pays homage to the airport’s original name. Guests can enjoy continental cuisine with a variety of quality menu items for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and extended service hours. Additionally, the hotel features the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage program, which encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include signature bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones and aromatherapy.

The Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York City hotel, owned by ERG JFK Hotel, LLC, and managed by Gemini Hospitality, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it will soon introduce its Westin Hotels & Resorts brand to the island of Mauritius. Owned by Blue Ocean Park Ltd., The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius is scheduled to open in spring 2014. The resort will enjoy a pristine beachfront location in the historic Turtle Bay of Balaclava – the former breeding grounds of the Mauritian green sea turtle – on the North West coast of Mauritius, offering captivating views on the turquoise waves of the Indian Ocean. Nestled in lush tropical gardens and surrounded by sugarcane fields and mountains, the 190 beautifully appointed guest rooms, including 38 suites, will be designed to embrace the natural beauty of the resort’s unique scenery. All rooms will feature the renowned Westin Heavenly Bed®, the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and exclusive White Tea Aloe bath amenities, as well as the latest in-room technology. The Westin Turtle Bay Resort & Spa, Mauritius will also offer five dining venues, including an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a pool restaurant and bar, as well as a lobby lounge.

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Launched on the 28th January and occupying three immaculately restored yalis (waterfront mansions) on the Bosporus’s European shore, ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites bring a new hospitality concept to Istanbul:

“Intimate home-style living finessed by the city’s most exclusive design house”.Available singly, as three separate houses or as one large residence, the 18 individual Suites celebrate the finest in local craftsmanship and hospitality, from exquisite textiles and objects d’art by Istanbul’s hottest young designers to Anatolia’s purest natural and regional cuisine.

Suites are a masterpiece of Ottoman symbolism and homely touches, adorned with antique glass chandeliers, silk drapes, hand-painted ceilings and original paintings, while cozy nooks and Bosporus-view terraces lend themselves to easy conversations and lazy afternoons.

But it’s their conceptual celebration of Istanbul’s rich contemporary culture that really set ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites apart. Conceived as a meeting place for international aficionados, the Suites draw on the knowledge, expertise and connections of the Turkish Cultural Foundation and NAR (Natural and Regional) Gourmet, transporting guests far from the homogenised idea of a guesthouse to a stylish immersion in Istanbul’s thriving cultural heritage.

“ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites bring together two cornerstones of Turkish culture – hospitality and heritage – and package them as a gift for international aficionados and cosmopolitan sophisticates alike,”

Life at the Suites is based around a communal sense of living that celebrates a coming together of minds. Meals are taken around the 18 seater dining table, in the individual yali’s dining rooms or on the terrace with friends from Istanbul’s thriving arts, media and business worlds regularly visiting to engage in lively cultural discourse.

Guests can enjoy bathing and massages in the private Turkish Hammam; make use of the Suites private boat and direct water access and mix with like-minded sophisticates in an atmosphere of relaxed refinery.

Private cultural immersions range from private jet trips to see the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia, to after-hours shopping experiences at ARMAGGAN’s two flagship emporiums.

ARMAGGAN Bosporus Suites aim “To present its guests with the opportunity to enjoy the finest contemporary Turkish culture from the ease of their own waterfront residence”.

December Highlights
• Dubai hotels end 2013 with occupancy above 80 percent as rates and profits surge
• Jeddah witnessed growth in all key performance indicators in December
• Doha hotels experience stronger demand, however rates and profits continue to fall
• Egypt hotels posted lowest performance amongst the five markets featured

Travelodge has recently announced that two of its prominent London hotels, at Marylebone and Wembley, are to undergo an extensive refurbishment programme to the value of £2million. Work has already started and is part of a £57 million company wide refurbishment programme in a bid to grow the business, strengthen the brand offering and make Travelodge the UK’s favourite hotel brand for value.

By autumn this year, 80% of the Travelodge estate will be refurbished in line with the Company’s new design. This will include 47 hotels in London being refitted in the new Travelodge design at a total investment cost of £9 million. (Over the last nine months, 33 of the 60 London based Travelodge hotels have already been refurbished)

Across Travelodge’s portfolio of hotels, Marylebone and Wembley are receiving the biggest investment to date from the programme

Both hotels will be completely fitted out in the new modern, fresh Travelodge design. This includes a new room design which has been created by Travelodge customers and includes a bespoke luxury king size bed called the *Travelodge Dreamer – which is deemed in the industry as the Rolls Royce of beds and is usually found in luxury hotels. The room also features a sleep inducing colour palette in a tranquil blue and cream, as well as stylish swoosh stripes on the curtains and bed runner. Other additions in the new Travelodge room include a larger desk, new carpet, artwork above the bed and a stylish white contemporary en-suite bathroom.

Paul Harvey, Travelodge Managing Director – Property said: “We are delighted to be investing £9 million into our London hotels. Over half of our London properties have already been refitted in our new fresh modern design and customer feedback has been extremely positive.

“Our Wembley and Marylebone hotels are receiving the biggest share of investment from the programme as both properties were conversions of going concerns, and they need the extra cash to fully convert them into the new Travelodge style.

“The demand for good quality, low cost accommodation is growing at great pace across the capital and our new product is well placed to offer business and leisure travellers the best value in the city.”

Wembley Travelodge, a 176-room hotel is located just half a mile from Wembley Stadium and Arena, making it a popular choice for visitors to both venues. The hotel, formerly a Holiday Inn Express, was opened in 2006 on the North Circular Road and will see £1.1 million spent on its refurbishment programme which is expected to take three months with no disturbance to the day-to-day operation of the hotel. The refit will also see a redesign of the hotel’s restaurant and public areas.

The 92-room Marylebone Travelodge hotel, formerly a Ramada Hotel is just footsteps from Marylebone station – a vital overground and underground transport hub. The hotel, which opened in 2006 and is having £800,000 spent on its refurbishment programme, which is expected to take six weeks.

The refurbishment programme is being carried out by Travelodge’s in-house maintenance team.

A historic building in Nottingham city centre has undergone a £1.5 million transformation into a new boutique hotel, bar and brasserie.

The Bentinck Hotel is located on Station Street and now boasts thirteen luxury bedrooms furnished with comfortable beds, flat-screen televisions, power showers, and free WiFi. The building dates back to the eighteenth century and has been developed to a high standard, whilst still maintaining many of its traditional period features.

“It is great to see such a beautiful building brought back to its former glory”, commented Ken Burt, owner of the Bentinck Hotel.

“We are offering guests the choice of thirteen unique luxury bedrooms, all with their own modern amenities and individual features. The restaurant will be serving up a fantastic breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, whilst the bar has a wide range of premium drinks on offer.

“Being home to the Capital FM Arena, Trent Bridge, Nottingham Castle and the two football stadiums, the city has some of the best leisure venues in the county. With the new train station opening soon, The Bentinck Hotel is perfectly placed to offer both short and long stay accommodation at the gateway to Nottingham and our bar and restaurant is a great place to grab lunch or hold a business meeting.”

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has announced it has opened the first Crowne Plaza in Serbia – Crowne Plaza® Belgrade. Boasting the largest hotel ballroom in the country, the hotel’s meeting facilities further set it apart from the competition. Originally opened as InterContinental Belgrade in 1979, the hotel was bought by Delta Holding in 2008. Delta Holding has since signed a new management agreement with IHG and has invested in the transformation of this famous hotel into a Crowne Plaza. The distinctive look of the hotel’s exterior has been retained whilst the interior has been completely restyled to encompass a simplistic elegant design and large welcoming spaces.

Conveniently located in the business district of Belgrade, the hotel is a five minute drive from Belgrade’s city centre and a 15 minute drive from Nikola Tesla International Airport.
Crowne Plaza Belgrade features 416 rooms, two restaurants, lobby bar, an exhibition hall, a full service business centre, 12 meeting rooms and a fitness and spa centre with the largest hotel swimming pool in Serbia.

The hotel features the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage® programme, which encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Programme components include signature bedding, wake-up calls, designated quiet zones and aromatherapy.

Marriott International, Inc. together with Ian Schrager and The Witkoff Group, Winthrop Realty Trust, New Valley LLC and Maefield Development have recently announced plans for a second EDITION hotel in New York City. Scheduled to open in 2017 and located in the heart of Times Square, the new hotel will follow the expected 2015 debut of Manhattan’s first EDITION property located in the landmark Clock Tower building at 5 Madison Avenue. EDITION is a first class, full service, luxury lifestyle brand within the Marriott International portfolio, conceived in collaboration with legendary hotelier Ian Schrager. Marriott International will manage the hotel under a long-term agreement.Located at 701 Seventh Avenue, this will be the first hotel of this scale to be built in Times Square in over two decades. The world-class hotel design will feature floor to ceiling windows with unobstructed views of Manhattan in seventy percent of the property’s 452 guest rooms. The Times Square EDITION will be one component of a mixed use development which will feature 100,000 square feet of flagship retail, dining, entertainment and event space, as well an 18,000 square foot HD LED sign – one of the largest in the world. In keeping with the identity of EDITION, Mr. Schrager will lead all creative design and positioning for the hotel, as well as the entertainment programming offered within the property.

Starwood Property Trust, Inc. and iStar Financial Inc. provided to the ownership group an $815 million construction loan for the mixed use project which includes the hotel and retail space. In addition, Starwood Property Trust, Inc. and Starwood Capital Group Global, LLC and its affiliates have an equity interest in the transaction. As additional collateral for the loan, Marriott International has agreed to provide the lenders with the right (upon an uncured event of default under the loan agreement) to require Marriott to purchase the hotel component of the property during the first two years after opening for $314.6 million (i.e., $696,000 per room).

Mark Elliott of Hodges Ward Elliott acted as a hotel advisor to The Witkoff Group and partners.

Most recently, The London EDITION opened to rave reviews and this month was awarded “Best Hotel, 100 or More Rooms” by Travel + Leisure as part of the magazine’s annual design awards. The modern and luxurious hotel opened this past September in the historic building formerly known as the Berners Hotel, located in the city’s Fitzrovia neighborhood. Future EDITION hotels are planned for Miami Beach (2014), New York City (2015), Abu Dhabi (2015), Gurgaon, India (2015), Sanya, China (2015), Bangkok (2016) and West Hollywood (2017).

December 2013 saw the launch of Andaz Peninsula Papagayo – one of Latin America’s most exciting new hotels, situated on the north pacific coast of Costa Rica. Launched in the last week of January at the resort is the new ONDA SPA, elevated into the trees of Costa Rica’s lush tropical forest and spread across 11,000 square-foot. The new ONDA SPA features nine treatment rooms – six indoor and three outdoor with sweeping vistas of forest and sea. Two of the three dual ONDA Suites, which are ideal for couples treatments, come complete with a luxurious soaking tub and private relaxation area. The spa menu comprises a wide array of therapeutic treatments and for the more active, there is also a 24 hour fitness centre with steam and shower rooms too.

Treatments at the ONDA SPA are individually tailored for each guest, but all use the healing power of water, natural local ingredients and Costa Rica ancestral organic remedies to invigorate both body and spirit. Pre-treatment, each guest is invited to choose from a special music menu from which a soundtrack that best suits their mood can be selected. These musical offerings have been entirely inspired by the natural sounds and rhythms of the surrounding Papagayo region and personally curated by the hotel’s dedicated Cultural Insider of Music, Jason Dietch. There is also a therapeutic tea menu for guests to select from.

ONDA’s signature treatment, the ONDA CAMBIO, promises an experience of personal wellness, blending together Papagayo’s culture, senses, smells and touches. Each of the qualified ONDA spa therapists are on hand to tailor the CAMBIO treatment to each guest which includes the use of fresh ocean water, locally grown botanicals and herbs to directly address each guests’ treatments needs, goals and desires.

The extensive spa menu further includes the ONDA Ritual – an initial, deep cleaning facial treatment followed by a relaxing Swedish massage with aromatic oils bringing powerful de-stressing benefits to mind and body. Body massages using a wide variety of natural products and techniques, volcanic hot and cold stones, natural sugar cane and reflex therapy are also available while facials include a ‘Rain’ herbal hydration treatment, the ‘Refine’ green clay detox, and an ‘Uplift’ soya anti-ageing treatment.

Guests wishing to prolong their experience can do so with a post-treatment addition such as a relaxing ONDA bath or scalp massage or just simply venture to the spa’s idyllic suite relaxation terrace which boasts serene views onto the ocean and dramatic, lush surroundings. The hotel’s two swimming pools are also within close vicinity of the Spa and guests can enjoy a rejuvenating bite to eat in one of the three themed restaurants which serve some of Costa Rica’s finest seafood.

Andaz Peninsula Papagayo is home to 153 spacious rooms including 21 suites and located approximately 20 minutes from Liberia International Airport (LIR) which offers daily services from several major U.S. gateway cities, frequent regional service from San José, the capital city, and seasonal service from other main international destinations. San José’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) has regular connections to several gateway cities in Europe and Latin America.

Plans for the significant expansion of a holiday resort in Cornwall gain the approval of the council planning committee, taking the project a significant step closer to being granted full planning permission.The Retallack Resort and Spa at St Columb Major in Cornwall is planning to add an additional 334 units to its current site. The proposed new development will span 33 hectares and include a new reception building which will house a swimming pool, gym, function space, gym, restaurant, café and office space.Edmond Shipway is part of the team working with Hunter Page Planning to meet national and local planning policies with the development of a comprehensive energy and sustainability strategy that will ensure the site is energy efficient and has minimal carbon impact on the local environment.

Specialist sustainability consultants carried out initial energy and carbon calculations and identified suitable low carbon technologies that could be implemented on the site. This included; advice on the form and construction of the buildings to achieve maximum energy efficiency with recommendations on insulation, thermal envelope design and use of solar energy.

Daman Ranby, Director of the consultancy said; “Sustainability is essential to positive consideration of the application and the planning officer’s recommendation for approval; Cornwall Council’s Strategic Planning committee has duly resolved to grant full planning permission for the development. This is a major development that will give a substantial boost to the tourist economy in the area so it’s vital we ensure the site meets all the sustainability and environmental policy requirements.”

Hunter Page Planning is overseeing the planning stages of the project and Ian Gilbert, Senior Planner commented: “It is great to see Cornwall Council taking such a positive approach to truly sustainable economic development. We are very proud to have represented such a great scheme which will bring a great deal of economic, social and environmental benefits to the local area and the South West region. We are pleased to recognise the part that Edmond Shipway played in formulating our plans for a sustainable development and their role in progressing our application through the planning process.”

At the America’s Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles, Marriott International, Inc. announced that it had the fastest-growing new-construction pipeline in the industry, worldwide, in 2013, based on information published by Smith Travel Research. In addition, Marriott reported that it signed more than one hotel project per day in 2013, totalling a record 387 hotels and 67,000 rooms. The company opened nearly 26,000 new rooms in 2013 and, given its strong pipeline, expects new hotel openings to accelerate in 2014 and 2015. In 2013, Marriott increased its total development pipeline by over 30 percent. At year-end 2013, Marriott had more than 195,000 rooms under development across five continents, compared to 176,000 rooms at the end of the third quarter and 143,000 rooms just a year ago. At year-end 2013, the company’s global pipeline included 72,000 hotel rooms under construction, 83,000 rooms signed but not yet under construction, 11,000 rooms awaiting conversion to one of Marriott’s brands, and 29,000 rooms for projects that have been approved for development but not yet signed.

Fuelling this success is Marriott’s extensive line-up of 18 brands, the broadest in the lodging industry, including its luxury and lifestyle portfolio, which accounts for nearly 25 percent of the company’s overall pipeline.

“Our luxury and lifestyle portfolio of 438 hotels across nine brands* is robust,” said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International. “The Ritz-Carlton is recognized as one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands and is expanding outside the U.S. At the same time, we are rapidly growing new brands such as EDITION, Moxy Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott and Autograph Collection, all brand innovations that position us well with customers looking for a different type of experience.”

EDITION, an exciting full-service, luxury/ lifestyle brand conceived in collaboration with legendary hotelier Ian Schrager, continues to receive rave reviews following the opening of The London EDITION in 2013. EDITION is gaining ground, with 10 hotels open or in the signed pipeline, including The Miami Beach EDITION, scheduled to open later this year. Future hotels are planned for Abu Dhabi (2015), Gurgaon, India (2015), Manhattan Madison Avenue/NYC (2015), Sanya, China (2015), Bangkok (2016) and West Hollywood (2017), as well as the just announced Times Square EDITION in New York (2017).

Moxy Hotels is on track to open its first hotel in Milan, Italy, in August, and additional properties are expected to open in six other European markets in 2015. Combining contemporary design and approachable service at an affordable price, Moxy is projected to reach 150 hotels in the next 10 years.

The fastest hotel brand launch in the industry, the Autograph Collection has added nearly 60 hotels since its 2010 introduction at ALIS. A unique business venture, the Autograph Collection harnesses the power of Marriott’s global sales, marketing and revenue engines for independent hotel owners.

“Marriott’s determined focus on powerful brands and global growth has delivered unparalleled results,” said Tony Capuano, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Marriott International. “In 2013, we completed the largest number of new hotel deals in our company’s history, a pace of more than one new hotel project every day, benefiting from our partners’ improved access to capital, rising consumer demand in major markets, the impact of the growing middle classes in Asia and Africa, and greater international travel than ever before.”

In Africa, Marriott expects to complete the acquisition of the Protea Hospitality Holdings’ brands and its management business in April 2014. With Protea, Marriott will nearly double its distribution in the Middle East and Africa to 23,000 rooms and become the largest hotelier on the African continent.

In its Asia Pacific region, Marriott expects to open a hotel every week across 10 different brands, doubling in size, reaching 330 hotels with more than 96,000 rooms across 16 countries by 2016. In 2013, Marriott signed agreements to add 78 new hotels and more than 22,000 rooms in the Asia Pacific region, an industry-leading pace.

In the United States, Marriott ended 2013 with more than 22,000 hotel rooms under construction, representing the largest hotel construction pipeline in the industry, according to data from Smith Travel Research. In fact, Marriott operates or franchises one of every five new hotel rooms that opened in the U.S. in 2013. Driving these results is Marriott’s broad brand line-up, including the company’s newest brand in the U.S., AC by Marriott. Inspired by the fashion houses of Milan and already successful in Europe, AC by Marriott will open its first hotel in the U.S. in Miami this year, with 16 other projects under contract (totalling 3,215 rooms) around the globe.

“Staying focused on our strategy of global growth and brand differentiation has paid off for Marriott and its owners and franchisees,” said Sorenson. “We look forward to opening even more hotels in 2014 and beyond, introducing Marriott and its brands to new guests and welcoming loyal customers to new and exciting locations across the globe.”

Marriott International has announced the opening of two new properties in Dubai to kick start the expansion of its ever growing pipeline across the Middle East and Africa. The two properties carry the company’s signature brand, Marriott Hotels, as well as its upscale serviced apartments brand, Marriott Executive Apartments, which are situated in close proximity to Dubai’s MEA Al Jaddaf 1 Bedroom Living and KitchenRoyal residence, Zabeel Palace, and offer beautiful scenic views of the city landscape of Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay and the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa. Conveniently, the Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf and Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Al Jaddaf are a mere 10 minutes from each of these locations as well as Dubai International Airport, Dubai Mall and the Gold Souk.The Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf is the first Middle East and Africa property to open as per the new brand transformation that Marriott Hotels has been going through globally since last year. This includes not only a new logo which keeps the iconic “M,” while modernizing its overall appeal, but also an ongoing innovation throughout its hotels around the world, with re-designed lobbies and public spaces known as ‘Greatrooms’ and introducing a mobile check-in application, all of which are rapidly being deployed for the next generation of travelers who blend work and play, demand style and substance, and require technology, and feature in the new Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf. Marriott Hotels has also launched a multi-year campaign called ‘Travel Brilliantly’ (www.travelbrilliantly.com); all done in a bold move to amplify the brand’s dedication to the future of travel.

The Marriott Hotels brand currently has 16 hotels in seven countries across the Middle East and Africa, with over 5000 rooms. By 2017, there will be a further twelve properties across the region, raising the room count by nearly 3000 rooms.

The Dubai Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf has 352 rooms across eight floors with 192 Deluxe King and 107 Deluxe Double rooms, including 39 Executive Suites, two Zabeel Suites and an exceptional Presidential Suite. Each space is designed for functionality and leisure with state-of-the-art technology, wired and wireless Internet and spacious amenities. The hotel also offers 14 elegant, meeting rooms as well as the magnificent Zabeel ballroom, which can accommodate up to a maximum of 540 persons.

The property boasts seven distinct restaurants, lounges and bars. Offering cuisines from around the world including Asian, European, Middle Eastern and a new American/Scottish concept, the hotel caters to the most discerning connoisseur and to guests looking for a relaxed meal.

Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Al Jaddaf is the brand’s sixth property in the region; with a further six set to open across the Middle East and Africa by 2017. Introduced in 1997 to the Marriott International portfolio, Marriott Executive Apartments is the company’s only corporate apartment brand designed to provide upscale residential living. Personalized service and the assurance of a Marriott experience allow guests to achieve what they need to in an environment that has all of the comforts of home. Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Al Jaddaf has 128 fully furnished apartments including one, two and three bedrooms providing the space, ambience and privacy of a home away from home.

HVS Hodges Ward Elliott is pleased to announce that acting on behalf of Marriott International, it has successfully arranged the sale of Marriott International’s interests in the Renaissance Barcelona Hotel to an affiliate of the Qatar Armed Forces Investment Portfolio (QAFIP) for around €78 million. Marriott International will continue to operate the hotel under a long-term management contract. The 211-room Renaissance Barcelona Hotel occupies a prime location in the heart of Barcelona and was opened in April 2012 after extensive renovation, making it one of the finest upscale hotels in the city.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced that its Le Méridien brand will soon add Indianapolis to its rapidly growing North American portfolio. Le Méridien Indianapolis will debut in November 2014 following a $9.5 million renovation of The Historic Canterbury Hotel, a landmark property in the heart of downtown. Owned by Rockbridge and managed by Azul Hospitality, Le Méridien Indianapolis will feature a timeless chic design ethos that juxtaposes the hotel’s historic architecture with a contemporary, modern style. The historic Canterbury site, dating back to 1858, was rebuilt in 1928 as a hotel infused with the charms of Canterbury, England. As part of the comprehensive renovation, Le Méridien Indianapolis will feature 100 modern guest rooms, local cuisine in a re-designed restaurant and lounge, an expanded fitness centre and more than 1,750 square-feet of upgraded meeting and event space.

Le Méridien Indianapolis will feature the brand’s signature Le Méridien Hub™, which re-interprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place, and further builds on the brand’s award-winning arrival experience and coffee culture. Le Méridien arrival consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas; the sensory experience, illustrated through Le Méridien signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART™ programme, featuring artist designed key card collections that offer access to Le Méridien affiliated contemporary cultural centers in the city; and a 24-hour curated soundtrack. The Hub at Le Méridien Indianapolis will also feature the signature Master Barista, a recently launched initiative to meet the growing demands of coffee lovers at every Le Méridien hotel worldwide. Master Baristas lead coffee-related initiatives at each hotel, serve as a coffee cultural ambassador, and maintain knowledge of current coffee trends within the destination.

Le Méridien Indianapolis is walking distance to the Indiana Convention Center, Indiana Statehouse and the offices of numerous corporations including Eli Lilly, Brightpoint and Wellpoint. The hotel is convenient to the city’s theatres, museums, galleries and music venues, and a private entrance directly connects the hotel to the Circle Centre Mall, where guests can access the city’s climate-controlled, indoor Skywalk system.

Renaissance Hotels has recently announced its newest addition in Provence. Located in the heart of the new Forum Culturel district and less than five minutes from Cours Mirabeau, the Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel offers travellers the chance to discover the very best of one of the world’s most vibrant destinations.Designed by Marseille architects Claude Sabin Nadjari and Rémy Saada, the five-star hotel features striking and contemporary design and a stunning Provençal garden. Elegant and sophisticated interior design is featured throughout 133 guest rooms and suites, created by Julie Fuillet of “From Here to There” Design Studio. The theme of bespoke craft continues throughout the hotel with exclusive pieces of furniture created by French designer Christian Ghion.

Discover Unique Art
Inspiring discovery with more than 400 paintings and sculptures created exclusively for the hotel, guests have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a collection of contemporary art, curated by Isabelle Viatte of “Via Crea” agency. The extraordinary exhibit entitled “Haut La Main!” is brought to life through a special programme of events with artists, personalities and entertainers.

Gastronomic Discovery
Celebrated chef Jean-Marc Banzo offers a culinary experience in two distinct places within the hotel. Le Clos is a gourmet Mediterranean restaurant of just 40 seats with the motto, “the pleasure of the palate.” The chic bistro Le Comptoir du Clos features a sun drenched terrace from which to take in stunning views of Provence. For a social occasion or RLife Live event, Renaissance Hotels’ signature entertainment programme, the bar L’Avant-Scène is the place to be.

Discover Well-being with Ymalia
The YMALIA Spa at Renaissance Aix-en-Provence offers exclusive treatments by Cosmébio. Relaxation therapy is combined with the latest facial modelling techniques along with marine biotechnology innovations. The hotel also boasts an indoor swimming pool, sauna and fitness centre.

Discover Meetings & Events
The hotel features 700 square metres of meeting space within seven rooms, making it a perfect fit for all kinds of gatherings, conferences and receptions. Meeting spaces open on the “Salle des Pas Perdus” as well as on the 1,000 square metre Provencal gardens and terrace.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a luxury brand in the FRHI Hotels & Resorts (FRHI) portfolio, has recently announced an agreement with CITITOWER SDN BHD, a joint venture between Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company and KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned company of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS), to open its first property in Malaysia. Building on the brand’s growing presence in Southeast Asia, Fairmont Kuala Lumpur is set to debut in 2017. The 62-story luxury hotel will offer 750 well-appointed guestrooms along with an executive lounge and Fairmont Gold, the luxury brand’s hotel within a hotel offering. Fairmont Kuala Lumpur will also feature six dining outlets, as well as 2,787 square meters (30,000 square feet) of meeting and banquet space and recreational facilities including a swimming pool, health club and spa.

Fairmont Kuala Lumpur will be located in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) development, which is home to the iconic PETRONAS Twin Towers, the tallest twin buildings in the world. The project will include the hotel and one high-rise office tower, which will be connected via a six-story retail podium.

“Fairmont Kuala Lumpur is an important milestone for both our brand and for FRHI,” said Jennifer Fox, president, FRHI International and Fairmont Brand. “It’s a dynamic new destination for Fairmont and is our company’s first hotel in Malaysia, an influential and growing market that we feel is of strategic importance. We’re very excited to be entering Kuala Lumpur, a key gateway city in the region, and remain focused on expanding the Fairmont brand in Southeast Asia and other leading destinations globally.”

Fairmont Kuala Lumpur will have an enviable location across from the PETRONAS Twin Towers, and will be connected to the Suria KLCC shopping complex. The hotel’s public areas and guestrooms will be located on the sixth story and above, offering magnificent views of the nearby KLCC Park, as well as PETRONAS Twin Towers. Guests will also have easy access to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and various office complexes through a covered walkway.

The project is being designed by Pelli Clarke Architects, a group that is associated with many prestigious projects including the PETRONAS Twin Towers and the International Financial Centre in Hong Kong.

Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and the country’s financial and cultural center, famed for its multicultural heritage, excellent shopping and diverse dining options. The KLCC development is ideally located close to many of the city’s top attractions, including the Suria KLCC, a premier luxury shopping destination that also houses the PETRONAS Art Gallery, the Philharmonic concert hall, and a science center as well as cafes, restaurants and a 12-screen cinema. The nearby “Golden Triangle” district is home to the city’s best nightlife and entertainment spots.

Fairmont continues to expand its presence in Asia Pacific, with a growing regional portfolio of luxury hotels and many more in development. Guests currently enjoy luxury accommodations at Fairmont Beijing, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, Kunshan’s Fairmont Yangcheng Lake, Fairmont Nanjing, Fairmont Singapore, Fairmont Makati in Manila and Fairmont Jaipur. The luxury hotel brand is also expanding with new projects set to open in Chengdu (residences 2014/hotel 2015), Jakarta (2015), Bali (2016), Taiyuan (2016), Changsha (2016), and Hangzhou (2017).

December Highlights

• UK hotel profits up in 8 out of 12 regions for 2013
• Birmingham behind the pace
• Nottingham nudges forward

Travelodge opened its third hotel at the UK’s second busiest airport, Gatwick, on the 29th January 2014.

Crawley Travelodge is a 110-room new build property with six floors. It represents a £7 million investment and has created 20 new jobs within the local community. The hotel is located on Pegler Way in Crawley, which is less than five miles from Gatwick Airport.To help create a warm and cosy ambiance in the new room so that customers obtain a good quality night’s sleep, Travelodge worked with a chromotherapy expert and has introduced a sleep inducing colour palette to the room’s décor. The feature wall has been painted a tranquil blue, as research shows our body clock is programmed to relate the colour blue to the hours of darkness. So when we look at the colour blue, our metabolism slows down, making us feel relaxed and sleepy.

Other additions to the new room include a stylish white contemporary en-suite bathroom with a power shower, stain & water resistant carpet in a dark shade of blue, a larger desk area, new reading lights and a phone charging socket built into the bed frame. The room also includes artwork above the bed. This is an abstract design featuring relaxing sparkles and shades of blue, which customers found very pleasing to the eye and restful.

The new hotel is being managed by Andrina Wooler who started working at Travelodge as a part-time night receptionist in 2008.

Andrina Wooler, Crawley Hotel Manager said: “I am so thrilled to be managing Crawley’s first Travelodge hotel in such a prime location. There is a growing demand for good quality, low cost accommodation in the area, as getting value for money is hugely important for consumers in today’s market. As a result, we are ideally placed to be the smart choice for business and leisure travellers.

“By attracting new visitors to the area, this hotel will annually boost the local economy by £1.2 million, as our research shows the average Travelodge customer will spend on average £36 in local businesses during their stay.

“The hotel has got off to a flying start and there is no doubt that our new room design has had a great impact on sales. Customer feedback has been phenomenal, especially in relation to the Travelodge Dreamer Bed and the overall enhanced new experience.”

The hotel’s new team of 20 staff members have all been recruited via the Job Centre Plus Scheme – which helps the long term unemployed back into work. As part of their induction training, staff members undertook a comprehensive four week training programme at a nearby Travelodge hotel. They also attended a sleep seminar to ensure they are fully equipped to ensure their customers get a good night’s sleep.

Four Seasons Hotel Milano has unveiled a beautiful new look for its celebrated Fashion and Royal Suites as part of its ongoing room refurbishment project.Renovated in collaboration with interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, both suites were designed with the idea of creating unparalleled luxury spaces, characterised by a defined look and feel. Located in the Hotel’s casa ringhiera wing, the suites are arranged around open balconies that overlook a glass-covered atrium.

Positioned as the Hotels most prestigious luxury suite, the Royal Suite occupies the entire fifth floor of Four Seasons Hotel Milano. Opening up the design of luxury apartment style private sanctum, Pierre-Yves Rochon has instilled an airy and timeless look. “We tried to give a intimate residential feeling to the Royal Suite by adding a library and marrying together different styles of furniture like people do in private apartments”, Rochon said.

Decorated in light beige, silver and white tones, the suite’s apartment-style layout flows fluidly from one room to another. The suite’s step-out balcony offers panoramic views across the neoclassical rooftops of Milan and overlooks a private terrace and garden. Accessible by a dedicated lift, the Royal Suite can be connected via a private internal staircase to a Premium Room and an Executive Suite on the floor below to become either a two or three bedroom residence.

Showcasing a decidedly contemporary look, the Fashion Suite on the fourth floor of the Hotel is a study in striking design and colour. Rochon selected a bright kelly green with black and white accents for the suite’s palette. “When I chose the furniture for the Fashion Suite I wanted to stay true to the spirit of the 50s and 60s with pieces by Saarinen with strong lines and an intense green colour”, Rochon said.

Providing a stylish contrast, an enveloping green armchair and pouf is positioned on a graphic black and white rug, joined by lacquered black furniture and small grey veined marble tulip tables. Large french doors open up onto a long terrace bordered with hedges and a Knoll table and chairs fitted with cushions upholstered in a chic herringbone fabric.

Integrated property services and project delivery specialist Styles&Wood has completed a £3.37 million (AED 20 million) refurbishment contract for Waldorf Astoria’s first property in the United Arab Emirates, the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al-Khaimah.The 47,000 sq ft refurbishment of the 5 star resort, spanning four floors of the 346-room hotel, included the fitting-out of the hotel’s restaurants, conference centre, lobby, and reception area to a bespoke specification.

The hotel is located in one of the seven United Arab Emirates, Ras al-Khaimah and features an 18-hole golf course and a nearly 400-yard stretch of private beach.

Inspired by the palaces of the Arabian Peninsula, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is ideally located 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport. The setting of this landmark destination is matched by its unparalleled facilities including stylish dining and entertainment venues, sophisticated conference and event facilities, luxurious spa experiences, an 18-hole championship golf course and a 350m private beach, both set against the azure water of the Arabian Sea. This is true luxury; defined.

Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is an extraordinary destination. Cradled by the crimson Hajar Mountains and vast expanses of desert, the vibrant grassy plains of the Al Hamra championship golf course and the turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea; adventure is on the doorstep. Explore Ras Al Khaimah’s attractions from this luxury resort hotel, including a waterpark, sailing, shooting and flying venues, safaris and area sightseeing.

The Cologne Furniture Fair, or more accurately IMM Cologne, is one of the world’s biggest furniture shows, taking place every January in Cologne, Germany. It sets trends for the year and factories use it to showcase themselves and introduce new products.The Contract Chair Company sends a team to attend this event every year, with the intention to source the best new products for the hospitality furniture market.

IMM 2014 has been marked by a switch from renovation to innovation – during the last few years the hottest hits of the furniture market have tended to be new interpretations of classic pieces; this year we have seen many more completely new designs.

The Contract Chair Company is introducing to UK the 10 best lounge furniture items from IMM Cologne 2014. Please enquire to our Hotel Division for further details.

Travelodge has recently announced that it will be adding an additional nine rooms to its Aberdeen Central Justice Mill Lane Travelodge hotel (which currently has 119 rooms), by converting an adjacent, vacant retail unit. To help to meet the growing demand for good quality, low cost budget accommodation in the city, in addition to these extra rooms, Travelodge is also actively looking for its fifth hotel in Aberdeen, after revising its target location list.

This announcement comes on the back of Travelodge’s commitment to invest over £500,000 refurbishing its existing four hotels in Aberdeen.

Both Aberdeen Airport and Aberdeen Central Justice Mill Lane Travelodge hotels received a complete brand refurbishment toward the end of 2012, which incorporated the new Travelodge room design, which has been created by the hotel chain’s customers. This saw all bedrooms receive new Travelodge Dreamer beds, which are deemed in the industry as the Rolls Royce of beds.

Aberdeen Bucksburn and Aberdeen Central Travelodge hotels will undergo their refurbishments in March this year.

The extension at Aberdeen Central Justice Mill Lane Travelodge hotel will create 20 construction jobs and building work is expected to take nine weeks beginning in Spring of this year. The hotel will remain open for business during this period.

Tony O’Brien, UK Development Director for Travelodge Hotels, said:

“The demand for good quality, low cost accommodation is growing at great pace in Aberdeen and, as a result, the city has become one of the strongest performing hotel markets in the country. So, we are delighted to be adding additional rooms to our Justice Mill Lane Travelodge hotel and looking for a new hotel site.

“Our retained Scottish agent, Sandy Cameron & Co, is actively looking for a suitable location in Aberdeen, so that we can boost our portfolio to five hotels in the city.”

Marriott International has opened a luxurious ski and spa hotel under its signature brand, Marriott Hotels, at the heart of the new Gorky Gorod ski resort in Krasnaya Polyana. The five-star Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana Hotel is ideally positioned at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains within walking distance of world-class ski slopes. The hotel is operated by an affiliate of U.S.-based Interstate Hotels & Resorts.Just half an hour from Sochi Airport by express train, Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana is situated next to a new, state-of-the-art convention centre. Offering breath-taking views of snow-capped peaks, the hotel is minutes from the ultramodern Gorky Gorod ski resort and its wide variety of pistes ranging from 960 to 2300 metres altitude.

Spread over seven floors, the hotel’s 428 rooms and suites are inspired by natural materials and come complete with complimentary internet and plasma TV with satellite reception. The River Café, the hotel’s centrepiece restaurant, serves international cuisine with European, American, Russian and Asian influences. Italian pastas, risottos and pizzas and an extensive wine list can be enjoyed at The L’Olivio restaurant. Guests can also dine or sit with a glass of wine on the restaurant terraces, which provide outstanding views of the mountains.

Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana Hotel guest roomOne of the largest in the region, the luxurious SOUL spa is spread across 2,000square metres and houses nine treatment rooms, including private spa suites. Guests can personalise their treatment by choosing between the four elements: earth, air, fire and water. The impressive range of services extends from traditional massages and treatments to a unique Snow Shower, where guests can enjoy hydro massage, aromatherapy, Turkish bath and Finnish sauna.

Private landscaped grounds face the mountains and boast an extensive complex of indoor and outdoor pools. The hotel is an excellent choice for family holidays thanks to its kids club, children’s menus, special swimming and play zones, and entertainment complexes for younger guests. The nearby Gorky Gorod entertainment centre features a water park complete with natural sandy beach, a cinema, a bowling alley, restaurants and cafes, and shops and boutiques.

The 245 room BLOC Hotel in Gatwick Airport follows in the footsteps of its Birmingham counterpart, offering what it describes as ‘pared-down chic’. The very best materials are used whilst still making the hotel as cost-effective as possible, meaning guests can enjoy stylish and comfortable rooms, in prime city-centre locations, at very good prices.One of the key factors in BLOC’s ethos is making the best use of space and not wasting unnecessary resources – this is what helps keep the hotel’s room rates low, without scrimping on quality. To achieve this, BLOC has chosen innovative but trusted brands, which includes Roca for all brassware and sanitaryware. BLOC’s rooms are priced on three levels, basic, executive and luxury, and so required a range of products to fit these different themes.

The bathrooms themselves are being constructed in pods by Boxbuild.

With the ultimate small space WC and washbasin combo, W+W, plus brass and sanitaryware ranging from ‘budget to boutique’, Roca’s ethos and product offering work perfectly with the hotel’s ambitions.

Roca’s stylish yet water-saving Element brassware was chosen for the hotel’s ‘Snug and Vista’ rooms, the innovative water-saving W+W, which re-uses water from the basin to fill the cistern, features in the ‘Aspire’ rooms and the prestigious Armani/Roca Collection is a focal point of the ‘VIP and Presidential’ rooms.

“For me, Roca offered the perfect balance of design and quality,” said BLOC owner, Colin Graham. “Throughout the project, my priority has been to choose major brands that are genuinely enthusiastic about what we are trying to do – Roca has been fantastic in that regard.”

“Their range of products is excellent – W+W, my personal favourite, is ground breaking, fitting perfectly with our pared down, luxury take on the hotel market. The inclusion of Armani/Roca has enabled me to lift the level of the special rooms, while enjoying the kudos of being associated with a major luxury brand.”

• Gross revenue for the year up 2.8% to €11.5 billion.
• Solid growth in all key markets during 2013, with Group revenue up 2.7% like-for-like and down 2.0% as reported.
• Revenue from owned and leased hotels up 1.5%.
• Revenue from management and franchise fees up 14.7%.
• Strong increase of the fourth-quarter revenue: up 3.4% like-for-like and down 3.1% as reported due to a highly negative currency effect.
• Full year EBIT target raised to around €530 million, from €510-530 million previously.

InterContinental Hotels Group, (IHG) announces the opening of the newly renovated Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites Bloomington – West located a short distance from Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport and the Mall of America. With 23 other Holiday Inn Express hotels in Minnesota, the 159-room newly renovated hotel is one of the largest Holiday Inn Express® hotels in Minnesota, by number of rooms. Located at 7770 Johnson Ave. in South Bloomington, the hotel has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation including new carpeting, furnishings and complete bathroom upgrades in all guest rooms, as well as pool and fitness area enhancements. Previously the Le Bourget Aero Suites hotel, part of the Ascend Collection by Choice Hotels, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bloomington – West has a six-story South Tower and a four-story North Tower.

Conveniently accessible to the famous Mall of America via shuttle service, the newly renovated hotel is thus also connected via the Light Rail station at the mall to downtown Minneapolis, the Theater District and the new Vikings stadium scheduled to open in 2016 and home to the Minnesota Vikings.

The Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Bloomington – West hotel, owned by Bloomington Hotel Acquisition, LLC and managed by Madison Hospitality Group, LLC, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

Sankara Nairobi received accreditation from SafeHotels for its excellence in safety and crisis management. Sankara Nairobi is the first Hotel in Africa to receive the accolade.Speaking during the award ceremony, Hans Kanold, CEO of SafeHotels said, “The hotel is the first ever to attain the 200 point audit and be awarded with the SafeHotels certificate and trust symbol.

Receiving the award, the General Manager of Sankara Nairobi, Mr. Moshi Perera noted that this was a huge milestone for the hotel, as “we are committed to exceeding customers’ expectation in every respect”.

Sankara Nairobi is also Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP (DS – 3027: 2002 (E)) Certified. It was the first hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the certification in 2011.

HACCP is recongised as one of the most rigourous and comprehensive preventative food safety management systems in the world.

In attendance at the award ceremony, SafeHotels Global Operations Director, Andy Williams asserted, “safety is a major concern especially for hotels and should be taken seriously. Our company was created due to the fact that safety is one of the main concerns within the international hotel and meeting industry today.”

Often times, a lack of measures is taken to meet the growing safety and security concerns. Safehotels’ solution is to provide objective third party evaluation of business hotel and conference venues’ security standard world wide – covering all important aspects of hotel and conference security.

Continued on page two…

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®) has signed a franchise agreement with Hotel Fira S.A.U to open its first Crowne Plaza® in Barcelona – Crowne Plaza Barcelona Fira Center. The hotel will open during the first quarter this year.Revealing 3, 000m2 of meeting space, the hotel will have the largest conference and meeting facilities across the entire portfolio of Crowne Plaza properties in Europe. It will be converted from an existing building to a 276 room hotel complete with a new Wellness Centre, a fitness room and a VIP club lounge.

Occupying a prime location in the city centre, the hotel is less than 100 metres away from the Fira Barcelona Convention Center next to Plaza Espana Square, one of Barcelona’s most renowned public spaces. Its sizeable rooms coupled with excellent train and airport transportation links will cement its appeal to both corporate and leisure travellers.

Hylko Versteeg, IHG’s Development Director for Spain and Portugal said: “Barcelona is a key city for us in Europe and our Crowne Plaza brand is absolutely the right fit for this area. The property’s fantastic facilities and central location will provide the hotel with a competitive advantage and Hotel Fira S.A.U is the perfect partner to help IHG continue to grow in Spain.”

Enrique Escofet, Managing Director of Hotel Fira S.A.U highlights the advantages of working with a global hotel company. “Being part of the Crowne Plaza brand fosters reliability and consistency in the international hotel market, which will not only benefits our hotel guests, but also Barcelona as a destination for business and tourism.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced the launch of its rapidly growing Four Points brand in Charleston, the capital of West Virginia. Owned by BBL Hospitality, Four Points by Sheraton Charleston completed a comprehensive $15 million renovation to transform the Charleston House Hotel into the newest addition to the Four Points portfolio. Offering spectacular views of the Kanawha River, the hotel is Starwood’s first property to open in West Virginia. The newly renovated hotel features 176 spacious guest rooms and suites, 12,000 square feet of market-leading meeting facilities, full-service dining and all the other amenities that have made Four Points a favorite with travelers worldwide. “Four Points by Sheraton Charleston offers an unbeatable riverfront location right at the heart of the city’s bustling downtown where guests can enjoy an uncomplicated comfort, genuine service, plus all the amenities they need to stay productive on the road,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood.

Prior to re-opening as a Four Points, the 12-story hotel, built in 1966, fully renovated all guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas, refurbished the exterior and added the Recovery Sports Grill and an indoor pool.

Just a short drive from Yeager Airport (CRW), Four Points by Sheraton Charleston is ideally located in the city’s business district, close to Charleston Civic Center, Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, the State Capitol Complex, the Charleston Area Medical Center and the shops and restaurants at Charleston Town Center. Offering what is best for business, guests will find signature year-round amenities like free bottled water, great coffee, free internet access in all guest rooms and free Wi-Fi in all public areas.

Motel One, the rapidly expanding German budget design hotel chain, has won the bidding for and purchased its first property in Barcelona – with their first Spanish opening set for 2016.The deal is worth over €14 million, with the hotel set to have approximately 300 rooms and be located on Passeig Pujades. Central locations are a key brand trademark, with Motel One Barcelona set to be no exception. Passeig Pujades runs alongside one of the city’s biggest parks; Parc De La Ciutadella and is also within a short walking distance of the famous streets of Las Ramblas not to mention the beach and bustling port.

Motel One will be the investor and operator of the hotel. The opening will be the brand’s first property in Spain, though further expansion plans are steadily gathering pace and are focused on European metropolises including Madrid and Amsterdam. Motel One are interested in taking on long lease building contracts or investing into new properties. The Barcelona hotel will be a complete new build property.

Of the latest edition to the Motel One portfolio the groups Marketing and PR Director Mrs Schelle said “We are thrilled to be adding a hotel in Barcelona to our expanding portfolio of properties. It is an exciting development and a great start to 2014. Location is key to us in every site we take on and this new location in Barcelona fits our city centre concept perfectly.”

This news comes just before Motel One’s second UK hotel will open its doors in Edinburgh this Spring, with London, Glasgow and Manchester set to follow over the next two years. The brand is going from strength to strength with its portfolio currently standing at 46 hotels across Germany, Austria and UK with an offering of approximately 10,290 rooms. Motel One’s objective is to grow the brand portfolio to 72 hotels and 18,000 rooms by 2016.

Further openings in 2014 will include: Berlin, Bremen, Brussels, Cologne, Frankfurt, Leipzig, London, Magdeburg and Vienna.

Planning consultancy Turley Associates, acting on behalf of Whitbread, has secured planning permission for a new 61 bedroom Premier Inn and a 180 cover Brewers Fayre restaurant at Llanfoist Farm in Abergavenny, Wales.Permission was granted by Monmouthshire Council’s Planning Committee on 7 January.

The development forms one of the first phases of a wider scheme at Llanfoist, which will also include other commercial and residential developments with associated highway and access improvements.

Richard Pearson, Regional Acquisitions Manager, Whitbread said: “Abergavenny is the ‘gateway to Wales’ and a great base for exploring the eastern reaches of the Brecon Beacons National Park and the recently designated Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site. We are delighted with this decision and intend to start construction later in the year.”

Peter Lawson, Associates Director, Turley Associates said: “The design of the new buildings was a particular challenge on this gateway site, with bespoke high quality buildings appropriate to the area having been approved.”

Worldhotels, a leading group of independent upscale hotels, is taking its partnership with the Ameron Collection, a four-star plus hotel brand under the umbrella of the Althoff Hotels, to the next level: Four additional Ameron Hotels and Resorts in Germany and Switzerland have been added to the Worldhotels portfolio. The successful partnership started in 2010, when Ameron Hotel Regent in Cologne, Germany, joined Worldhotels. Talking about the reasoning behind their decision, Edgar Lichter, Vice President Ameron Hotels, points out the extremely positive experience the group has made with Worldhotels in the past: “Since joining Worldhotels, the Ameron Hotel Regent has experienced substantial growth and has gained a clear and strong position in Germany and Europe. In terms of offering international marketing and distribution support under a global brand, Worldhotels represents the ideal partner.”

Ameron is a young and dynamic hotel brand inspired by the renowned Althoff Hotel Collection, which focuses on hospitality and lifestyle. With hotels in metropolises such as Berlin, Frankfurt and Cologne, the Althoff Group has concentrated its Ameron hotels in destinations with a high travel volume in both the business traveller and leisure segment.

“We are delighted to welcome four additional hotels of the Ameron Collection”, adds Paulo Salvador, Executive Vice President Europe, Middle East and Africa. “With their fresh and innovative concept which caters to the needs of modern travellers, they perfectly complement our global portfolio of almost 500 hotels in 250 destinations. We are looking forward to a strong business relationship and are confident that our global sales network and marketing initiatives will increase the hotels’ international exposure to ultimately maximise our mutual results.”

The new additions are:

Ameron Hotel Speicherstadt, Hamburg, Germany
Opening its doors in summer 2014, the hotel will be the first and only hotel in Speicherstadt, Hamburg – the city’s historical warehouse district. It will feature 192 rooms, all boasting cosmopolitan chic with their 50s and 60s style interior, as well as the latest in in-room technology.

Ameron Hotel Königshof, Bonn, Germany
Built in 1872, the Ameron Hotel Königshof with its 129 rooms is located in the heart of Bonn, yet in a quiet area between the banks of the river Rhine and the Hofgarten. The hotel is famous for its Restaurant Oliveto, which prides itself on being the best Italian restaurant in the Bonn area.

Ameron Mountain Resort, Davos, Switzerland
Welcoming guests as of winter 2015/2016, the 148-room resort will be located in the centre of Davos, opposite the Congress Centre Davos – the well-known venue of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF). In addition to a spacious Ameron Vitality Spa, the hotel will feature a children’s club and a restaurant with adjacent winter garden.

Ameron Hotel Flora, Lucerne, Switzerland
Surrounded by a stunning mountain panorama and located near the famous Lucerne Lake and the Old City, the Ameron Hotel Flora occupies a prime location in Lucerne. Each of its 161 rooms offers a unique design, and is complete with complimentary Wi-Fi.

The annual IHG celebration took place in Amsterdam back in December 2013, recognising the best performing hotels across Europe, and the people within the industry for their outstanding performance and contribution to the business and the local community in which they operate. Crowne Plaza London – The City Hotel, Blackfriars, fought off competition from properties across Europe to scoop the Renovation Award. The winning criteria was based on a hotel that has successfully completed a major renovation that includes a significant percentage of guest rooms or a considerable proportion of public areas, carried out between 1 May 2012 and 30 April 2013.

Anthony Worrall, General Manager, of Crowne Plaza London – The City was at the ceremony to accept the award and said: “This award recognises all the hard work and team effort we’ve put in this year. We’re constantly striving to go the extra mile so guests can expect a consistently top notch experience when visiting our hotel and we’ll continue to work together to keep delivering the same experience each year.”

Stephen McCall, COO UK&I and Head of Europe Operations Performance & Support, commented: “We are fully committed to supporting and developing our people; our hotels are only as good as the people working in them. We aim to provide the right environment, support and inspiration they need to fulfil their capability and these awards are a reflection of the fantastic talent we have working in our hotels across Europe.”

November Highlights
• Abu Dhabi reported a surge in performance with occupancies topping 85%
• Kuwait experienced a 67% jump in profits
• Hotel performance in Sharm El Sheikh plummets as demand dries up
• Average rates continue to fall in Doha

The hotel industry in the UK and across Europe is facing a positive 2014 with demand on the up from both leisure and corporate guests, transaction activity set to improve and lending becoming more easily available.Across Europe hotel development remains active with 360 hotel projects ongoing, an additional 60,000 rooms. Many are expected to open in 2014, with the balance in 2015 and 2016. A further 450 hotels (70,000 rooms) are currently at the planning stages, with the majority of projects to be found in the UK followed by Russia, Turkey, Germany and France*.

Global hotel consultancy HVS London said that some 45% of the new rooms under construction in Europe are in the upscale sector, rather than only the budget sectors.

“There has been much talk about the growth of the budget end of the market, but operators are still keen to build prestigious hotels in key locations as consumer demand from Russia, China and the Middle East remains strong,” commented HVS chairman Russell Kett.

London boasts around 100 hotel projects currently at the planning stage, while there is still demand for individual properties in the capital, as well as in the provinces.

“Debt financing is becoming easier, but typically this is still only for acquisitions and refinancing where the borrower is already known to the bank, rather than new development. Lending is more easily obtained for hotels in major cities as opposed to provincial or resort locations,” he said.

However, while hotel development and transactions look relatively positive, Russell Kett urged operators across Europe, particularly those in upscale hotels, to adapt to the changing demands of the modern traveller who is now seeking a different sort of hotel experience, with genuinely courteous service, rather than bland, corporate responses.

“How much more refreshing it is when such attitudes come naturally to people, when staff delight in giving great service in a natural, unforced way, and when guests feel so happy about their experience that they do your marketing for you by telling their friends – little wonder that many boutique hoteliers recruit staff on the basis of their character and personality, rather than qualifications,” he said.

London has taken the lead in the development of alternative hotels, such as boutique properties and serviced apartments. These developments are meeting the needs of this more sophisticated demand base and ultimately this might stretch more into the UK regions.

“Boutique hotels have a great future ahead of them, not least in helping to re-educate the mainstream hotel sector in what the hotel business is all about,” concluded Russell Kett.

* figures supplied by STR Global

Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal today opens its doors to business and leisure travellers, taking the total number of Hampton by Hilton properties in the UK to 13. Located 40 yards from Gatwick’s North Terminal check-in desks; the hotel will be one of the UK’s most convenient airport hotels. Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal offers 192 welcoming guestrooms, a complimentary 24-hour gym facility, a boardroom that seats up to 16 delegates and a 24/7 snack area. Open to all fliers, the 24/7 snack area will serve light snacks and hot drinks, which can be enjoyed in the hotel or as a take-away option. Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal also offers 60 parking spaces for travellers who wish to book a park and fly package.

Phil Cordell, global head, focused service and Hampton brand management, said, “The introduction of Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal marks a new milestone for Hampton by Hilton brand in the UK, as this property will be our first London airport hotel. The design and décor reflects the brand’s values of comfort through the introduction of key public and private spaces, which create an overall welcoming guest experience.”

Inspired and designed to reflect the Hampton by Hilton brand, mauve and slate hues will be offset against neutral tones of coffee and taupe for a modern yet calming setting. 192-rooms offer flexible accommodation for those travelling as a family or on business, with complimentary WIFI, a spacious working area, in-room beverage facilities and a Hampton hot breakfast included in the room rate.

Simon Vincent, area president, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Gatwick Airport is the most efficient single-runway airport in the world and serves 200 destinations across 90 countries for 34 million passengers a year on short and long haul flights. With direct access to the North Terminal, our latest Hampton by Hilton is ideally positioned to be the first port of call for these international travellers and greet them with the brand’s signature friendly service.”

Simon Fordham, general manager, Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal, said, “Whether we’re travelling for business or leisure, the one thing we all want is convenience. Gatwick is one of the UK’s busiest airports and with the hotel located just seconds away from Gatwick’s North Terminal check-in desks, we’re happy to be able to play a part in taking away the stress associated with travelling.”

A proud member of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, Hampton by Hilton London Gatwick Airport North Terminal will offer guests the added rewards of the Hilton HHonors® guest loyalty programme.