Refurbishment Unveiled At Leicester Marriott
Kensington Roof Gardens Set To Be Restored To Former Glory By Early 2020
Kensington Roof Gardens, one of Londons best known party venues, is set to re-open as a restaurant or members club by 2020, according to its landlord.
The popular Roof Gardens, famous for its flamingos, had been welcoming guests since 1933 but was closed in January by its operator Virgin Group.
A shortlist of new operators is being drawn up, with Cushman & Wakefield hoping to name a successful bidder early next year with a view to re-opening in late 2019 or early 2020.
The site at 99 Kensington High Street consists of the sixth & seventh floors of the former Derry & Toms store. It includes the Babylon restaurant, a nightclub and bar housed in an art-deco former tea pavilion and three distinct gardens: the Tudor courtyard, the Spanish garden and the English woodland.
Occidental Impz Opens In Dubai
The four-star, 239-room Occidental IMPZ Dubai Conference & Events Centre has opened in Dubai Production City (DPC). Consisting of two buildings: Target with 111 rooms and Seeb with 128, this 239-room hotel is located in one of the most sought-after business destinations and offers five meeting rooms of different sizes all with the latest technolgy. It also boasts six restaurants, two heated swimming pools, rooftop terraces and a lounge bar with shishas and an alcohol licence.
Thirty minutes from Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and Dubai International Airport (DXB)The hotel also provides access to some of the most modern commercial areas, including Tecom, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Ibn Battuta and the City Center Me’aisem shopping centre. he Occidental IMPZ Dubai Conference& Events Centre therefore allows you to discover the charm of the Arabian Peninsula in facilities designed for a business or leisure trip.
Future proofing the UK Events Industry, together
Thoughts from the Business of Events Senior Leadership Forum on the UK Events Industry
The forum took place on Friday 26 October at the QEII Centre in Westminster and a wide variety of attendees from different sectors of the conference, meeting and events industry attended. The objective was to discuss challenges and opportunities, as well as their relationship with government to future proof the UK events industry.
The morning started with an interview with James Heappey MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Events Industry, who talked about using events to build communities. He brought up the idea of raising funds for the UK’s tourism industry with a bed tax on hotel stays. This was a controversial initiative amongst the attendees on the same table as me, because the UK’s air passenger duty is already higher than other European countries and an additional tax might be a disincentive to bringing an event to the UK.
A panel presentation followed with the Heads of Visit Scotland, Visit Wales, Tourism Northern Ireland, London & Partners, and Visit Britain. They outlined the challenges and achievements that their organisations have faced over the last 12 months. The value of events to the UK’s economy is thought to be £33bn and the country has experienced 8 years of increasing tourism visits, since the 2012 Olympics in London. It is 3rd in the world in attracting association events and one of the objectives is to make the UK the 1st country of choice for associations.
The Event Management Apprenticeship Programme
Sarah Wright, chair of the Events Industry Board Talent Taskforce explained the Event Management Apprenticeship Programme, which has set up 85 apprenticeships and will expand the programme further. She also announced the results of the EIB Talent Taskforce, which surveyed 265 people representing c34,000 employees:
- 61% of respondents identified a skills shortage
- 54% reported vacancies, 40% of which in mid-level roles
- The skills gaps are in sales and business development; project management; creative (suppliers); technical (venues); management and leadership (agencies); client handling (venues and agencies)
- 6% of employees are offered no training
- 23% of the workforce is classified as freelance or temporary
Future fit working lunch
This session was an opportunity to discuss topics that government could help with to develop the events industry. Issuing of Chinese visas is slower in the UK than Europe and only gives the visitor access to the UK, but a European visa gives access to all Schengen countries. The speed of issuing a visa to a Chinese citizen is under review, but the UK only access means that the visitor will stay longer in the UK and therefore spend more here. However, a Schengen visa encourages the visitor to move around more easily and encourages a ‘whistle-stop visit’ to each country.
Training and development was seen as key, with discussion around an industry-wide qualification that could be achieved whilst working. 64% of entry level employees move to a new job within two years, which is not very different from other industries. They often stay within the industry, but it does cause a high staff turnover at lower levels.
The day was rounded off by Kerrin MacPhee explaining her key objectives for Visit Britain; and Future focus – what happens next from Simon Hughes, Vice Chair BVEP.
A couple of things to think about
During the day we were asked to line up around the room in order of the years that we had worked in the events industry. The amount of knowledge in the room came to a total of 3,788 years, nine months and five days. With this amount of experience, we must be able to ensure that the events industry has a bright future?
Attendance at events is a problem across the board. There were 140 registered attendees, but only around 100 were there on the day, so getting people who’ve committed to actually turn up happens to us all!
Photo credits Ben Lister Photography
The Official Convention, Event And Tourism Organisation ‘Wonderful Copenhagen’
Copenhagen is not only a front runner with its sustainable solutions it has one of the worlds most ambitious climate policies – a goal of being the first carbon-neutral capital city by 2025 and has never been so accessible offering non stop flights from more than 183 international destinations, Copenhagen Airport has easy access to and from every continent and all major European cities. With the City Centre being only 13 minutes by metro, Copenhagen has seen a massive hotel boom with approximately 8,500 hotel rooms being built over the next four years equates to more than 40% increase in the city’s capacity with Greater Copenhagen on track to reach nearly 30,000 rooms by 2021. Recent openings includes the brand new 4* Scandic Kodbyen which opened on the 8th September with 370 bedrooms in the trendy Meatpacking District. Coming soon: August 2019 the 4* Scandic Falkoner with 335 and an auditorium for up to 2000 delegates, January 2020 the 5* Hotel Posthuset with 390 room – located in the historic building of the Old Post Terminal and a further 5* Hilton Copenhagen City with 400 bedrooms due later that year.
Its compact city centre makes walking between meeting venues, hotels, sights, restaurants and shopping areas a matter of minutes. Or join the locals and go by bike. Nearly 70% of the hotel rooms in Copenhagen are eco-certified. Gastronomic hotspot: Guide Michelin Nordic Cities 2018 has awarded a total of 19 stars to 15 restaurants in Copenhagen. Geranium tops the list as the only restaurant in Denmark with three stars, while AOC and Kadeau hold two stars. Whether you wish to try Michelin-starred Nordic food or are into other cuisines from around the globe it is all here. Get ready for a unique dining experience!
Accorhotels To Open Novotel And Aparthotel In Liverpool
AccorHotels has been selected to open a Novotel hotel and aparthotel in Liverpool City Council’s £1b Paddington Village scheme.
The £35m development, will include a 160-bedroom Novotel and 60-bedroom upscale aparthotel.
Subject to planning approval it is anticipated construction will begin in summer 2019 and complete in 2021.
The four-star hotel will include a reception foyer and atrium with multi-purpose conference and event facilities, function bar, restaurant and executive bar lounge, fitness suite and meeting rooms.
New 192-Bedroom Premier Inn Set For Finsbury Park
The green light has been given for the development of a 192-bedroom Premier Inn hotel in Finsbury Park, north London.
Islington Council granted permission to Whitbread, Premier Inn’s owner, to develop the property in conjunction with partner Ide Construction. Whitbread has a 25-year lease on the site, where the newly built hotel is expected to open in 2020.
The eight-storey hotel on Seven Sisters Road will feature Premier Inn’s steak-led Bar + Block restaurant concept on the ground floor, which Whitbread introduced two years ago and is now rolling it out in new and refurbished hotels in place of existing brands, Thyme and Beefeater. There are currently five Bar + Blocks open.
Louise Woodruff, acquisition manager (outer London) for Whitbread, said: “Working closely with the council’s planning team we have designed an attractive hotel building that will make a positive contribution to Seven Sisters Road, and the ongoing regeneration of Finsbury Park station, and create many permanent job opportunities – with recruitment focussed in the borough.”
More than 80 jobs are expected to be created at the hotel.
Shangri-La Hotel Planned For Melbourne In 2021
The $565 million Sapphire by the Gardens development in Melbourne has officially commenced, which will house the 5-star Shangri-La Hotel adding 500 hotel rooms to the city in 2021.
Representatives of S P Setia, Multiplex, Shangri-La, and the City of Melbourne gathered to break ground on what will become one of Melbourne’s most iconic developments, Sapphire By The Gardens located at 308 Exhibition Street, Melbourne earlier this week.
Developed by S P Setia, the mixed-use project’s western tower measures 62 storeys and will host Melbourne’s newest five-star hotel, the Shangri-La. The eastern tower is 60 storeys and will house over 300 luxury residential apartments.
The two towers will be joined by a striking Sky Lounge on level 46 overlooking the UNESCO world heritage listed, Royal Exhibition Building and its surrounding Carlton Gardens.
With construction anticipated to take three years, the project is expected to generate over 1,000 jobs during the construction and initial hotel operational period; representing a significant economic impact for Victoria.
Located in the north east corner of Melbourne’s CBD, near the culture and theatre precinct and overlooking the Carlton Gardens and Royal Exhibition Centre, the project’s 500-room luxury hotel is perfectly positioned to cater for tourists visiting Melbourne.
3 new hotels to watch out for in 2019
From discreet meetings in Paris and medical conferences in Amsterdam, to incentives in the South of France, the Far East, the Caribbean and beyond, Amplified Hotels represent hotels and brands who have the know-how to make your event a success and excited to announce 3 new hotels planned for 2019…
#1 Club Med Magna Marbella
From next summer, Club Med returns to Spain. Event planners can look forward to a ballroom for almost 900 delegates with two outdoor terraces, a dedicated events hub, 7 meeting rooms and almost 500 bedrooms. All set within 14 hectares of lush gardens at the heart of the Costa del Sol.
Fly to Malaga Airport Costa del Sol (AGP) – 40 minutes
#2 Leonardo Royal Amsterdam
Few hotels in Amsterdam can boast a ballroom that can seat almost 800 people, with 6 metre high ceilings, natural daylight and an adjoining outdoor terrace. In total, the new Leonardo Royal Amsterdam will offer 11 meeting rooms and 490 bedrooms. Opens April 2019.
Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) – 20 minutes
#3 Club Med Les Arcs Panorama
Set within one of the world’s largest ski areas, Club Med Les Arcs Panorama will open for winter and summer incentives from December. Surrounded by forest in the Tarentaise valley, the 4T resort will also feature an exclusive luxury 5T space – le Belvédère.
Fly to Geneva Airport (GVA) – 150 minutes
Easthampstead Park Conference Centre joins Classic British Hotels
Easthampstead Park is a Victorian mansion set in the Berkshire countryside. It is surrounded by 60 acres of woodland, parkland and formal gardens, yet is only minutes from Wokingham and Bracknell. There are easy transport links to the M4, M3 and M25. The centre is ideal for a variety of conferences, meetings, training workshops and team away days.
There are 19 meeting rooms suitable for anything from 2-180 delegates, along with 29 en-suite bedrooms. All meeting rooms include projector and screen as standard, with two meeting rooms include a huge 95″ LCD screen and Barco Clickshare wireless presentation technology. Meanwhile, our largest meeting room includes a 5m wide projection screen and Crestron touchscreen controls.
Future development plans are already in place with significant investment. These include an additional 67 bedrooms and a complete refurbishment of the existing bedrooms to give a total of 96 bedrooms. A new reception, lounge, café and afternoon tea area. A revamped restaurant, dedicated bar area and revised meeting space.