Month: September 2011

Hotel La Tour Birmingham, a £24m project, is under way in the Midlands. Opening in February 2012, it will have 174 rooms and a dedicated conference floor with seven meeting rooms for up to 120 people.

Global hotel brand, Best Western, has added 9 new hotels to its British portfolio over the past three months. Seven of the new hotels are spread across the Midlands and North with one new member in Scotland and one more in South Wales. Keith Pope, Director of Best Western said, “Best Western is experiencing a significant 20% growth in bookings this year, both online and through its call centre, and this is a very attractive proposition to quality independent hotels looking to grow their profile in the increasingly competitive hotel sector.

Lord’s, the ‘Home of Cricket’, has announced a partnership with renowned Indian caterers Tamarind and The Cinnamon Club for 2011 and beyond. Tamarind and The Cinnamon Club’s work with Lord’s hospitality and catering team reflects the international matches played over summer 2011.

The Point, the eye-catching red conference and events venue at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, is now officially ‘green’ after receiving an award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, a national sustainable tourism certification scheme for the UK.  A qualified assessor for the Green Tourism Business Scheme undertook an accreditation grading visit of the venue recently, which resulted in The Point achieving Gold level.

The HBAA Annual Forum will take place on the 8th and 9th of September at The Ramada Manchester Piccadilly Hotel Widely recognised as a keynote event in the HBAA calendar of events, the HBAA Forum draws figureheads from agencies, venues and hotels both within the UK and internationally. The Forum provides an opportunity for HBAA members (agents, hotels and venues) to discuss, debate and define industry trends and best practice.

The Westerwood Hotel & Golf Resort, near Glasgow, part of award-winning hotel group QHotels, is celebrating this week after being one of only two venues in Scotland to be awarded the highly acclaimed ‘VenueVerdict Gold Standard Accreditation’ by BDRC Continental, the UK’s largest independent market research agency.

Glaziers Hall is to be the House of Switzerland for the 2012 Olympics. Glaziers Hall situated on the banks of the River Thames beat a number of venues and events spaces to be awarded the coveted contract of the House of Switzerland following a competitive tender process. The House will welcome visitors over 24 days and will be a mini village created in and around the Hall, it will feature dedicated zones offering the opportunity for visitors to learn about a number of Swiss regions.

International hotel operator, Club Quarters, is developing a new hotel and restaurant scheme at Kingsway, London WC2.  With an outdoor terrace to Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the 10,000 sq ft restaurant building and 160 room hotel development are currently on site and due to open early in 2012. Club Quarters already operates 14 hotels across the UK and the USA, including three in London located at Trafalgar Square, St Pauls, and the City, primarily aimed at business travellers.