Hotels, Venues & Event news
Birmingham’s Escape Live has been described as Crystal Maze meets Cluedo. Located in the Jewellery Quarter the venue is great for team building for up to 10 delegates. Participants have 60 minutes to escape from a locked room by solving a series of puzzles, there are two themed rooms to choose from; Dr Wilson’s office and Room 13. Both very different in style this venue is sure to get your delegates working as a team to solve the puzzles and escape the rooms.
Birmingham’s NEC has opened a new beach area that has been created next to the venue’s iconic man-made lake. The beach, coupled with the new lakeside garden which opened last summer, has transformed the landscape of the NEC’s front door and offers the six million people who visit the NEC campus each year, a unique outdoor experience. The new feature sits next to the lake between the NEC venue, Genting Arena and Resorts World Birmingham. It includes a sand coloured pebble beach and contemporary designed Gabion wall, with integrated seating which arc’s around the beach, set off by seven striking topiary trees.
The lake was originally built to take away surface water from the venue, but since the opening of Resorts World Birmingham at the end of last year, which attracts an additional three million visitors to the NEC campus, it has now become a focal point.
The new beach area has been created as part of an on-going brand project at the NEC, which aims to shift the visitor experience from functional to experiential. Over the last 12 months the project has seen the refurbishment the Piazza Garden – which sits between halls 1-5 – and the introduction of engaging wall graphics outside the venue’s conference suites which aims to encourage delegates to think about innovation, learning and bringing people together.
Last month the Park Regis Birmingham was opened, bringing a brand new 253 bedroomed hotel to Birmingham centre. Meeting space is located on level 15 of the hotel offering panoramic views of the city, there are 5 meeting rooms to choose from with the largest accommodating up to 150 delegates. Drinking and dining can take place in either an a la carte restaurant, an all-glass Saki bar or a pan-Asian restaurant that is located on level 16.
The Minor Hotel Group has two new hotel openings in 2018 in Abu Dhabi.
Both are located in Jebel Dhanna which is a coastal region in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. They are close to the ferry departure point and 150 miles from Abu Dhabi city.
The first of the hotel is Anantara Jebel Dhanna Villas which will have 60 villa type rooms. The hotel will feature two restaurants and leisure facilities including a swimming pool and spa.
The second property is AVANI Jebel Dhanna Hotel which will have 230 rooms as well as multiple dining options and swimming pool and gym.
Both properties will have shared flexible meeting space which is also suitable for banqueting as well as outdoor recreation areas.
Park Plaza Riverbank is extending the hotel by an additional 5 floors. This will bring the total bedroom capacity to 650. This extension will also include additional meeting space which will now be located on the ground floor. The total capacity is 400 for a reception, splitting into 3 rooms to accommodate approximately 150 theatre, 80 theatre and 70 theatre style in each of the 3 sections accordingly.
The Thames meeting room is now becoming a new Latino Bar named Chino and will be located on the ground floor as well.
Throughout the year all of the bedrooms are being refurbished and the Ballroom and Plaza Suite have also recently undergone refurbishment including new carpets, lighting and décor.
The extension will be completed by the end of Summer 2016 and by the end of the year all refurbishment work will be complete.
The VOX opened in October 2015 with a host of outlet shops, 11 screen cinema, 4 star hotel, conference and banqueting facilities and 18 bars and restaurants. Each of the five meeting rooms within the VOX are equipped with the latest technology and can accommodate for events from 16 delegates to 900, there are also three boardrooms than can host up to a maximum of 100 delegates. The technology highlights include 4K resolution screens, a large media wall and movable digital podiums.
Last week I visited Dubai to take part in the M&I Forum which was held at the JW Marriot Marquis. It is the world’s tallest hotel and opened in 2013, with a 2nd tower of bedrooms added in 2015. This is a great hotel for events and as there are 1,628 bedrooms it has the capacity for large groups. There are more than 400 twin rooms which is the largest twin inventory in Dubai.
All of the meeting rooms, most of the restaurants, leisure facilities and public space is on floors 1-6 of the building. There are two ballrooms: the Dubai ballroom which can hold 1,500 people in theatre style and the Emirates ballroom for 900 in theatre style and can be divided into 6 sections and there are no pillars. In addition there are 30 more meeting rooms of various sizes. There is only one area of outside space, which is the terrace area by the swimming pool which can take 600 for a drinks reception or 350 for dinner.
There are 14 food outlets, Kitchen 6 has multiple food stations with food from around the world. Any restaurants can be privatised for groups and the Steak restaurant on the 68th floor has great views and a private dining room.
There is building work going on around the hotel as well an extension to the creek so it will come right up to the building.
The service and food was excellent everywhere I went in Dubai.
On two evenings whilst I was there, we went offsite for dinner. One was held at Atlantis the Palm on a terrace with access to the beach. The area easily accommodated 450 people with space for entertainment and the transfer took about 40 minutes from the JW Marriott. The other was at the golf club belonging to the InterContinental Festival City, with a transfer of 30 minutes. This is a modern building with outside terrace and grass area overlooking the golf course and lake.
Three hours were allocated one afternoon for various activities that the group could take part in to see a bit of Dubai. I chose a tour called Historic Dubai and we visited a mosque, followed by the wholesale silk souk, then took small wooden boat across the creek to see the spice souk and gold souk. It was very interesting and although the gold souk was very modern and ‘bling’. Other activities offered were: dune bashing in the desert, boat trip, visit to Dubai Mall and the top of Burj Khalifa, seaplane flight and indoor snow skiing at the snowpark.
I travelled with Emirates and the flight was excellent. Dubai Airport is the world’s largest in terms of passenger numbers and there is another airport planned to be built between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. There will be 6 parallel runways and it will be completed by 2020 when Expo takes place in the UAE
The transfer from the airport to the hotel was 25 mins to hotel and there was no traffic.
The UAE is also building the world’s fastest train which will connect Dubai with Abu Dhabi in 10 minutes!
In March 2016, a new hotel will open close to St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hungarian State Opera House called the Hotel Moments Budapest. The hotel will consist of 99 bedrooms and a roof top private terrace with views of Budapest. There will also be conference space to fit up to 80 delegates and a Hungarian specialist restaurant.
Finally the Aria Hotel Budapest which had 49 bedrooms has opened its door in March. The hotel centralises on the concept of music with its four different wings of the hotel relating to different music genres such as jazz or opera.. All of the conference rooms are named after famous influences in music included James Brown and Bob Dylan.
This year sees the opening of 3 new hotels in the Budapest, Hungary’s capital city:
Firstly, The Elizabeth Park Hotel centrally located in Budapest has undergone a new renovations and changed hands to now become a Ritz-Carlton property. Opening in Spring 2016 with 198 rooms, including luxury suites and various dining options.
In March 2016, a new hotel will open close to St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hungarian State Opera House called the Hotel Moments Budapest. The hotel will consist of 99 bedrooms and a roof top private terrace with views of Budapest. There will also be conference space to fit up to 80 delegates and a Hungarian specialist restaurant.
Finally the Aria Hotel Budapest which had 49 bedrooms has opened its door in March. The hotel centralises on the concept of music with its four different wings of the hotel relating to different music genres such as jazz or opera.. All of the conference rooms are named after famous influences in music included James Brown and Bob Dylan.
This year sees the opening of 3 new hotels in the Budapest, Hungary’s capital city:
Firstly, The Elizabeth Park Hotel centrally located in Budapest has undergone a new renovations and changed hands to now become a Ritz-Carlton property. Opening in Spring 2016 with 198 rooms, including luxury suites and various dining options.
In March 2016, a new hotel will open close to St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hungarian State Opera House called the Hotel Moments Budapest. The hotel will consist of 99 bedrooms and a roof top private terrace with views of Budapest. There will also be conference space to fit up to 80 delegates and a Hungarian specialist restaurant.
Finally the Aria Hotel Budapest which had 49 bedrooms has opened its door in March. The hotel centralises on the concept of music with its four different wings of the hotel relating to different music genres such as jazz or opera.. All of the conference rooms are named after famous influences in music included James Brown and Bob Dylan.
This year sees the opening of 3 new hotels in the Budapest, Hungary’s capital city:
Firstly, The Elizabeth Park Hotel centrally located in Budapest has undergone a new renovations and changed hands to now become a Ritz-Carlton property. Opening in Spring 2016 with 198 rooms, including luxury suites and various dining options.
In March 2016, a new hotel will open close to St Stephen’s Cathedral and the Hungarian State Opera House called the Hotel Moments Budapest. The hotel will consist of 99 bedrooms and a roof top private terrace with views of Budapest. There will also be conference space to fit up to 80 delegates and a Hungarian specialist restaurant.
Finally the Aria Hotel Budapest which had 49 bedrooms has opened its door in March. The hotel centralises on the concept of music with its four different wings of the hotel relating to different music genres such as jazz or opera.. All of the conference rooms are named after famous influences in music included James Brown and Bob Dylan.
The Welsh government has agreed to form a joint venture partnership with Wesley Clover, Celtic Manor Resort’s parent company, for its planned £80 million convention centre. The joint venture partnership will allow the proposal to construct the international convention centre in the grounds of the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport to continue moving forward. The venue will become the largest facility of its kind in Wales and the south west of England.
The proposed £80m facility is expected to be constructed and ready for use in 2019. It will be able to accommodate up to 5,000 delegates, with a total floor space exceeding 20,000sqm. It will house an exhibition hall large enough to hold 2,000 delegates plus an additional 15 meeting rooms and outdoor events space. The government hope that the convention centre will provide a considerable economic boost to Wales, and the 2010 Ryder cup and 2015 NATO Wales summit demonstrated to them that they are able to host Global scale events.
Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire has reopened their event space following a complete internal and external renovation.
The Safari Lodge is set within the grounds of the animal park and has expansive views across the animal enclosures. With a maximum capacity of 300 guests and an outdoor veranda area the space is stylish and suitable for a range of events as the room can be split into 2 for conferences or set up to suit a luxury dinner or an outdoor BBQ on the veranda.
As part of their packages they offer a VIP Experience whereby delegates will be taken on a Land Rover through the park to see the animals including commentary from a Park ranger. As well they have team building activities with incorporate activities and trials with the animals. Both could be an opportunity for team building, corporate away days and for something a little bit different for an event.