Author: Katharine Jordan

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Incentives, reward and recognition programs – how to plan in challenging times

How to plan a successful incentive programme is one of the greatest challenges going forward. In the last 18 months most travel-based programmes were cancelled or postponed. Companies still wanted to reward their staff who had achieved their goals and many of them turned to merchandise and gifts.

Many companies are planning to return to the travel incentive programme, but these will be different in the future.

  • Destinations need to be selected with greater care. Previously, many incentive destinations were international. These can now throw up problems with changes in regulations, restrictions and the time it takes to adhere to testing requirements beforehand and afterwards.
  • When dealing with global attendees, it is worth considering events in different regions: EMEA, APAC and America, rather than one large get together. This is particularly important when people are in difference countries and regions, with different restrictions.
  • Domestic destinations can also be attractive and may be easier and less stressful for the group. Participants won’t want feel motivated if they have to put a lot of time and effort in to the trip.
  • Group sizes will be smaller as fewer people will be able to fit on each transfer or activity and more space is needed for meals. Many people now prefer mixing in smaller groups
  • Covid protocols will need to be met, whether that’s testing and/or vaccination and what proof is needed to travel and attend theatres, clubs and inside activities.
  • Travel costs have increased as airlines have put their fares up. Airlines are also changing routes and cancelling flights if the booking levels don’t make them profitable.
  • Attendees requirements have changed, it’s the personalisation of the incentive that that makes employees feel special and incentives will be more focussed on personal experience. Make sure you know the group’s demographics, not just their age and make up, but also what they need to feel special: activities, relaxation, sightseeing etc
  • Communication is key. Do a survey to understand the concerns and make sure they have all the reassurance they need to attend. Check that all attendees are comfortable with the experience and they are reassured that they are fully informed and know the regulations, it is safe and there are no surprises.
  • Maybe people would feel happier travelling individually to a destination of their choice by using a voucher, rather than as a group.
  • Keep checking the objectives and know why you are running the programme – make sure it will motivate and reward the participants. Lifestyles have changed since staff have been working from home and successful incentive programmes pivoted to offering gifts and rewards that high achievers could choose themselves. The choice of a luxury item, by redeeming points, was successful in lockdown. Items such as a Peleton bike, wine, watches, jewellery and high-end household items made life more comfortable at home and were a treat.

For help to plan your incentive programme to find a venue, call our team of experts on 01780 484495 .

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A return to events – be flexible, creative & find new ways to facilitate networking

A delegate confidence survey conducted by Bramcote International and the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) amongst 350 association conference attendees has highlighted their confidence and attitudes towards attending future events.

Key findings include:

  • An overwhelming 93% of respondents miss the networking, social interaction, and meeting people.
  • 47% of respondents are happy to attend ‘in person’ events, this rises to 75% if the individual is fully vaccinated.
  • 34% of respondents want to see additional measures in place at their conference.
  • 71% of respondents want flexible cancellation terms for registration fees if unable to attend due to Covid.
  • 70% of respondents will be attending their next event before March 2022 (note – this is likely to be driven by timing of their specialist conference). 32% of respondents will travel to the next conference by car, 43% by train, 20% by plane.

Heather Lishman, ABPCO’s association director comments: “This survey is, on the whole, great news for our industry, highlighting not just what delegates have missed but what we can do to entice them back to our events. The results clearly show that conference attendees miss the personal elements of a conference – although they recognise that digital platforms offer highly capable opportunities to share knowledge and learn, it is the human interaction they miss the most – with only 15% saying they do not wish to attend an in-person event for the foreseeable future. This presents a real opportunity for future events to find creative ways to bring people together to learn and increase interaction.”

“Flexibility was also a key response if we are to successfully bring people back to live events. The requirements for additional measures to be put in place at events were far overshadowed by a need for more flexible cancellation terms, giving them the confidence to book in the first place. Unfortunately, despite the largely positive elements of the results, sustainability appears to be taking a back seat as delegates express a greater desire to travel in their own cars, avoiding mass transit options.”

The survey was conducted by Catherine Newhall-Caiger of Bramcote International, who said: “As the events industry, we have always known that networking, social interaction and meeting people is a key driver for attending events. This Survey reinforces this well-versed mantra by clearly showing that face-to-face interactions and social connections with colleagues is top of the agenda for 93% of the Survey respondents. Our role as PCOs, Venues and Suppliers is to create meaningful networking opportunities where people are engaged, and conversations happen that can often lead to new business connections, learning opportunities, collaboration and friendships. The key to our success is understanding and listening to our audiences and using this to create the right event, at the right time for the right audience.”

The 350 delegates surveyed were from a balanced demographic of age, gender, location and sector. Full details of which are available in the methodology and results.

The full survey is available by emailing heatherlishman@abpco.org

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New hotel openings from Hilton

In the first half of 2021 Hilton opened 226 new hotels throughout the world. Here’s a look at the most important properties in the UK, as well as a few abroad which are suitable for conferences, meetings and events:

DoubleTree by Hilton London Kensington

This DoubleTree joined the portfolio in June. Gloucester Road underground station is across the road. It is located in the museum area of London and withinwalking distance of Kensington Palace and Hyde Park.

  • Bedrooms : 163
  • Meeting rooms : 5

Hampton by Hilton Canterbury

Located in the heart of Canterbury city centre, just a five minute walk minute walk from Canterbury Cathedral.

  • Number of rooms: 129
  • Meeting rooms : 2

The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton

This is an apartment-style hotel, located a short walk from Cambridge city centre.

  • Number of rooms: 163
  • Meeting rooms : 1
  • Maximum capacity : 10

The Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton

Rebranded from The DoubleTree by Hilton Westminster, this hotel is within half a mile of Tate Britain, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

  • Number of rooms: 464
  • Meeting rooms : 4

DoubleTree by Hilton London Elstree

Located close to Elstree Studios, the hotel is on the A1, just off the M25.

  • Number of rooms: 135
  • Meeting rooms : 11
  • Number of rooms: 150

Hampton by Hilton Munich Airport South

Just 8 km from Munich International Airport, this hotel is 30 minutes from Munich city centre. It is 30km to Munich Messe.

  • Number of rooms: 240

Atocha Hotel Madrid

Atocha Hotel Madrid is in the city centre, close to Atocha central station and 30 minutes from the airport. It’s a member of the Tapestry Collection brand and boutique in style.

  • Number of Rooms: 46
  • Meeting rooms : 1
  • Maximum capacity : 12

Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadero

This property draws inspiration from Trocadero’s rich history and incorporates touches from the industrial past of the 1930s building.

  • Number of Rooms: 46
  • Meeting rooms : 4
  • Maximum capacity : 10

Sable at Navy Pier, Chicago

This hotel opened in March 2021 with views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. It’s the 100th for the Curio Collection brand.

  • Number of Rooms: 223
  • Meeting rooms : 6

Resorts World Las Vegas

On the Las Vegas Strip, this resort comprises three hotels: Hilton, Conrad and Crockfords and 40 food and beverage outlets. The resort also has shows, gaming and retail outlets.

  • Number of Rooms: 3,500
  • Meeting rooms : Theatre and five ballrooms which are flexible space and can be divided in to approx. 40 smaller rooms
  • Maximum capacity : 5,000 in theatre-style

If you found this article useful, please share it with your colleagues and friends.

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Networking at events – skills refresher

The idea of throwing yourself into a room of people you don’t know is a daunting prospect for most people, especially as most of us have been out of face-to-face contact for the last 18 months. However, networking is one of the best things that you can do to learn about what’s happening in the industry and develop your career.

It’s easier to do to do business with people you know or by recommendation and industry events, forums, educationals and exhibitions are a good way to make connections. But it’s not just about face-to-face meetings, there are networking opportunities online and social media sites give everyone access to a global community.

Practice

It can be hard to start a conversation with a stranger, so start in the office, at the gym or when you’re out and about by talking to people you don’t know. Just begin with small talk and see where the conversation goes.

Prepare

Spend a little time thinking about what you want to achieve from the networking event and have a few questions ready to ask new people. Also think about what you want to tell them about yourself, as it’s a two-way process. What news can you give them or place business or share contacts that will help.

Relax

Try not to worry about what to say next or what the other person is thinking. Focus on the person you’re talking to. Smile and look as open and approachable as you can, if you look friendly then someone will come and have a conversation with you.

Focus

Give the person you are talking to your complete attention. It’s off-putting if you’re looking for someone new to talk to. Build a rapport by asking questions and listening carefully. When the conversation has finished then move around the room.

Pick your events

There are so many opportunities but going to everything is time-consuming and exhausting. It’s better to be strategic and plan which events are most likely to be worthwhile.

Find a friend

If you’re going to an event alone, try and make at least one connection as this will make everything much easier. A lot of people in the room will be feeling the same way as you and don’t know anyone else either, so look for other people on their own and see how you can make them feel more comfortable.

Or, if you can, take a colleague this will make you comfortable until you gain confidence and find some new contacts of your own.

Keep in touch

Maintaining a relationship with a new contact is crucial to networking. Follow up with an email, connect on LinkedIn or another social media platform. Share ongoing news from time to time and find out what other events they are going to attend and catch up with them again there

We’ve all walked in to a room where everyone seems to know each other and are in groups, but remember that those confident people were in your shoes once. Even the ones who have been attending networking events for years still may not really enjoy it, but can hide it through years of practice and experience.

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How sustainable is your event destination?

The United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, is due to take place in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021 and with the recent extremes of weather around the world, sustainability is very much on everyone’s minds. Gradually, sustainability is becoming mainstream in the events industry, but now it has to be more than supplying reusable bags and getting rid of plastic straws.

There are huge problems to solve and these can impact the event’s budget. To be successful all the stakeholders need to address the larger issues of food waste, transport, energy, use of plastic and water consumption.

IMEX has published the Global Destination Sustainability Index which aims to promote the sustainable growth of international meeting destinations, highlighting best practices and responsible business tourism. It assesses the sustainability performance of cities and conference bureaux in four categories:

  • City environmental strategy and infrastructure
  • City social sustainability performance
  • Industry supplier support (restaurants, hotels and convention centres)
  • Convention Bureau strategy and initiatives

At the moment, 25 Scandinavian cities take part and these have been joined by destinations in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia as well as Australia. It is hoped that more destinations will participate in future. Not only will this make the tourism industry more sustainable, but improve the local region’s economy and adopt, responsible practices.

The results of the 2020 survey are as follows:

1Gothenburg, Sweden89.60%
2Copenhagen, Denmark88.00%
3Zurich, Switzerland84.60%
4Glasgow, Scotland78.50%
5Aalborg, Denmark76.20%
6Reykjavik, Iceland75.80%
7Malmö, Sweden75.60%
8Sydney, Australia74.90%
9Uppsala, Sweden74.30%
10Melbourne, Australia74.20%
11Dublin, Ireland70.90%
12Stockholm, Sweden68.50%
13Aarhus, Denmark68.00%
13Brussels, Belgium68.00%
14Lausanne-Montreux, Switzerland67.50%
15Galway, Ireland65.40%
16Barcelona, Spain64.80%
17Helsinki, Finland64.70%
18Ljubljana, Slovenia63.70%
19Oslo, Norway63.00%
20Kerry, Ireland62.70%

For more information about the sustainability of your destination, the Convention Bureau will be able to provide information.

For help or advice to book your event in a sustainable destination and venue call 01780 484051 or email enquiries@edgevenues.com, we’d be delighted to help.

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Destination cost comparison – which are the most expensive cities?

The cost-of-living report from ECA International has, again, put Hong Kong in first place of the most expensive cities in the world for a business trip. Since we last looked at this, five of the top ten most expensive cities are now in Asia. Geneva still tops the list of most expensive European destinations, followed by London and Zurich. The difference in costs will have a huge impact on your event budget and also attendee spend whilst there.

The twenty most costly location for business travellers, as well as to live and work are as follows:

Location 2021 ranking 2020 ranking
Hong Kong 1 1
Tokyo, Japan 2 3
Geneva, Switzerland 3 4
New York, USA 4 2
London, UK 5 6
Zurich, Switzerland 6 7
Tel Aviv, Israel 7 5
Seoul, South Korea 8 9
Shanghai, China 9 10
Guangzhou, China 10 13
Yokohama, Japan 11 11
Shenzhen, China 12 15
Singapore 13 12
Copenhagen, Denmark 14 19
San Francisco, USA 15 8
Beijing, China 16 18
Bern, Switzerland 17 17
Jerusalem, Israel 18 14
Oslo, Norway 19 33
Brazzaville, Congo 20 28

The research found that destinations which had high levels of tourism and international travellers before Covid-19 have fallen in the rankings, due to travel restrictions.

Currency fluctuations have also had a part to play, with weaker currencies causing those destinations to fall in the rankings. European locations have mostly gone up, due to the strength of the Pound and the Euro, but US locations dropped. Chinese cities remain some of the most pricey in the world.

ECA International’s cost of living rankings combine their Cost of Living research and Accommodation research in 208 cities in 121 countries and regions. Many criteria are compared, including daily essentials, food, leisure services, restaurant meals, alcohol, public transport as well as general living costs.

What about UK Destinations?

Looking at the UK, London has the highest cost-of-living and is, therefore, the most expensive city for business travellers. The cost for transport, food, drink and accommodation is higher in London than other UK cities. This table shows how much lower the costs are outside London:

Ranking City Cost % lower than London
  1. London  
  2. Edinburgh 14%
  3. Manchester 15%
  4. Bristol 16%
  5. Birmingham 20%
  6. Glasgow 19%
  7. Belfast 24%
  8. Newcastle 25%
  9. Liverpool 25%
  10. Cardiff 26%

If you would like us to find a venue for your next conference, meeting or event in the UK or abroad, please call 01780 484051 or email enquiries@edgevenues.com.

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Update on the North American events industry

We’ve recently taken a look at new hotel openings in the UK and Europe, so now we’re focussing on what’s happening in North America.

New York is expanding rapidly

There are almost 70 hotels being planned and built in the city at the moment, with around 35 due to open this year and 10 in 2022. Most of these are 4* and 5* properties.

Six hotels will belong to the Marriott International group. Three will be branded Marriott Hotels & Resorts and three will be part of Aloft Hotels. IHG is opening three Indigo brand hotels.

The Virgin Hotel New York is due to open in Autumn 2021 and is located in the NoMad neighbourhood on Broadway. There will be 463 bedrooms, meeting rooms, outside terraces, bars and restaurants, two floors of luxury retailers, and the mini-golf operator Swingers will open its first US operation in the basement.

The Ritz-Carlton Manhattan Nomad is also due to open at the end of this year. It will have about 250 bedrooms, meeting space, gym, restaurants and rooftop bar.

The Rockaway Hotel opened in 2020 and is located on Rockaway Beach with views of New York. It has 53 bedrooms, two meeting rooms, plus a sundeck, terrace and rooftop area which can be used for events.

New Orleans

Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans has an opening date of mid-2021, but hasn’t opened yet. It’s a 34-storey tower, built in 1968 and was originally the World Trade Center and International Trade Mart and is located on the river. There will be 342 bedrooms and suites, spa, observation deck and outdoor pool on the fifth floor. The larger ballroom has capacity for 324 people and there are 9 additional meeting rooms of various sizes.

Los Angeles

The Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles is due to open in September 2021 and will have 400 bedrooms and suites, rooftop pool with a bar on the 17th floor and a spa. There are 14 event spaces, including two ballrooms. The original hotel was opened in 1961 and was the first hotel to have colour televisions in all of its rooms!

Canada

Destination Canada has announced that from 7th September, the country will open its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from any country who meet specific entry requirements, heralding a return for the conference, meetings and events industry.

The 1 Hotel Toronto is due to open on 4th August 2021. It was previously the Thompson Hotel and will have 112 bedrooms, rooftop swimming pool and four restaurants. There are two meeting rooms with capacity for 200 and 90 people seated and in addition there’s a private dining room, rooftop space, garden pavilion, lounge and 3rd floor terrace that can be used for events. The hotel is described as eco-friendly; the restaurants using ingredients from a 50km radius of Toronto and buying carbon offsets to reduce the carbon footprint.

The Humaniti Hotel Montréal is the first Marriott Autograph Collection property in Quebec. It opened in June 2021 and has three meeting rooms, which are flexible space, and 193 bedrooms. There’s a spa as well as residential, office and retail development in the same building.

For creative venue ideas for your events throughout the world, call 01780 484050 or email enquiries@edgevenues.com.

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Hybrid Studios – are they the future of events?

Hybrid events are here to stay and we’ve spoken to two venues in London which have created studios. Elana Kruger, Marketing Manager of Church House Westminster (CHW) and Kat Winfield, Venue Manager of BMA House (BMA) have given us an insight into the changes that they’ve made to their venues and why they’ve done them.

It’s clear that a hybrid studio will give an organisers flexibility if Covid guidance changes and a hybrid event can reach a larger and more diverse audience, so why should you use one?

Why we created the hybrid studio:

CHW: We’ve created quite a few new innovative additions for event organisers in the last year or so, including a podcast studio too! We were inspired to think ‘outside the box’ as much as possible when we were first started shortlisting new venue and event ideas back in August last year, when we decided amongst our small team of nine (reduced from 25 – thanks Covid!) that absolutely no idea was too radical or far-fetched. We knew we had to completely rethink our event spaces and become more than a venue, we needed to offer more than 19 event spaces. This was a challenge we accepted with pleasure after seeing our venue empty for so long (first lockdown). We also had to unlearn what we have learned and evolve as we build the next normal of events.

Creative thinking caps on, our team then got to work and completed the following innovative projects:

  • Installation of an outside broadcast line (TVOB), which makes us one of London’s newest venues to offer film, media and TV production organisers fibre connectivity to deliver outside broadcasts to anyone, anywhere in the world. This resulted in our venue hosting two Saturday evenings’ boxing action streamed live on BT Sport towards the end of last year.
  • Creation of a virtual studio.
  • We then utilised our virtual studio to host a series of webinars investigating the future of events. The webinars were hosted by our team members and we sourced the speakers for each webinar. The first webinar explored the role of event technology in unlocking events and venues.
  • Collaborating with industry suppliers to offer virtual teambuilding experiences
  • Investing in virtual event training by enrolling our team in the Certification Program of the Virtual Events Institute (VEI), which has a clear focus on upskilling event professionals with the knowledge and tools to deliver excellent virtual and hybrid events. Our team now proudly displays the acronym VEIP (Virtual Events Institute Professional) behind their names.

BMA: We wanted to support our clients by offering an extended range of flexible event options within the venue. We recognise the need for companies to be able to reach out to wider audiences as well as the expectation of delegates and audiences to join virtually. Our hybrid studio meets these needs whilst further supporting our industry-leading sustainability credentials.

Have you seen an increase in business/bookings?

CHW: For sure, and not just in terms of our ‘usual’ event enquiries. The exposure from the boxing events, for instance, provided a massive awareness reach for the venue in completely new markets, which meant that we subsequently picked up new and unusual enquiries. So effectively we have increased our revenue streams by finding new markets which we now serve confidently and expertly, as a result of upskilling.

BMA: Yes, we have continued to see bookings across a variety of platforms – both face-to-face (in the months ahead) and via our digital and hybrid offering. We have seen a lot of enquiries for fully virtual events on our EventAir platform as well as many requests from repeat clients for hybrid options.

What sort of clients are using the studio?

CHW: A really good mix of associations, charities, government and corporate. It was essential for us to provide proof of concept, first and foremost, which is why our internal webinars were so crucial in getting it right in terms of production quality and then using that as case studies when meeting clients and promoting it to our new audiences.

BMA: We are seeing our enquiries come in from a lot of different sectors. Our strongest source has been the corporate market, which has a significant focus on the virtual and hybrid offering. However, ultimately, we are seeing enquiries from anyone looking to reach a wider audience.

What you think the future is for hybrid?

CHW: The future is hybrid – for now. We can’t all be physically together in the same space due to restrictions, but we also want to avoid the negatives of going all-virtual. Thank goodness there is a model that combines the best of in-person and online, which is hybrid. It’s about experiences, keeping it human, but also maintaining flexibility. For example, should guidance change at short notice, we know with hybrid we can effectively coordinate the split between in-person numbers and virtual attendees, because we’ve got the experiences for these two (very different) audiences right.

BMA: Hybrid is still in its infancy, it is going to prove pivotal to the future of our sector, how we do business and how we communicate and organise events going forward. It is a huge opportunity for everyone in the market – we must embrace it and find ways to incorporate it into the whole of our offering.

Is there a difference in cost?

CHW: As a tech-enabled venue, we pride ourselves on working closely with our clients. Once we know their ‘why’, it’s easier to decide what needs to be done face-to-face and what can be achieved online. There’s no perfect platform, just the best fit for your event, depending on your content/ reason for the event. It’s best not to hold back on production quality, if that’s key for your audience in terms of content and networking opportunities. We can be as flexible as a client requires us to be as most of our equipment is on-site and our expert event technologists are creative in terms of finding digital solutions.

BMA: Cost is still an issue as we come to terms with how best to make use of current infrastructure or develop it as a new product. However, as with all evolving technology and products throughout history it will come down in price as it becomes the norm rather than the exception.

How effective are hybrid events and what’s the difference with live?

CHW: Nothing equals the experience of being together in a room, connecting face-to-face. Virtual events cannot replace in-person events, but it can supplement it.

BMA: Ultimately, events have never been a one-size-fits-all business and the hybrid/virtual models are no different. To be our most effective for clients we need to continually ask questions and develop alongside their needs. Each event is a learning opportunity as well as a chance to deliver successfully for our clients. Flexibility is the most important and desirable attitude at the moment – it will ensure an event’s success and a great long-term relationship with the client.

There’s more information about Church House Westminster and BMA House on their profile pages or contact enquiries@edgevenues.com.

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New hotel and venue openings in Europe

European Landmarks

There are almost 2,000 hotels in the pipeline in Europe at the moment. Many of the hotels which should have opened in the last 18-months have been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which means that 2021-22 will see a lot of hotels opening. About two thirds of the hotels that are in the pipeline are 4* properties.

The UK has more hotels in progress than any other European country, with almost 500 new properties due to open in the next few years. Most of these are in London, which we looked at in last week’s article. The UK is followed by:

2. Germany with around 370 hotels

3. France with almost 130 (around 36 in Paris)

4. Italy with almost 100

5. Spain has around 90

6. Dublin has 60 hotels planned

Hampton by Hilton is the most active group, with 49 hotels underway, giving them almost 8,000 new bedrooms. This brand is followed by Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts with 24 hotels and Hilton Garden Inn with 24 hotels.

Accor’s Pullman brand is opening 45 new hotels worldwide. Only three new Pullman hotels are due to open in Europe and three in the Middle East in the next few years. Most of the new Pullman hotels will be opening in the Asia Pacific region, with about 34 properties being developed in China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Hotel Villa Pamphili, Rome

This 4* hotel reopened on 1 July and has been completely renovated in the last two years. It is on the outskirts of the city and located in a private park. The Congress Centre has 15 meeting rooms arranged on three floors, which provide flexible space. The largest room has capacity for 500 people in theatre style. There are 235 bedrooms, all with balconies, two restaurants, swimming pool and spa.

DoubleTree by Hilton Rome Monti, Rome

Following an extensive refurbishment, this hotel re-opened in April 2021. It is located in the city centre, 30km from the airport. There are three meeting rooms, the largest has capacity for 60 people and it can be divided into smaller sections. Built over 7 floors, there are 133 bedrooms and a Skybar with views of the city.

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz, Lisbon

This hotel, which originally opened 60 years ago, has undergone extensive refurbishment during the Covid-19 pandemic. The work comprised redesigning the bedrooms and suites, a new outdoor swimming pool, bar and terrace for the Ritz Bar.

The hotel has not lost its fifties style and charm, but has used new technology whilst keeping the heritage of the classic hotel.

Atocha Hotel, Madrid

Hilton has opened its first Tapestry brand hotel in the centre of Madrid. It is located close to the museums and Atocha central railway station, 30 minutes transfer from the airport. The hotel has 46 bedrooms and one meeting room for 12 people in boardroom style.

Hard Rock Hotel, Madrid

The Hard Rock Hotel, Madrid opened on 1st July and is situated in the Golden Triangle of Art. It’s design includes colourful artwork, a hanging guitar sculpture in the lobby and pieces of rock memorabilia, including denim jeans outfit worn by Elvis Presley and platform boots worn by David Bowie.

Events can be held in the gardens, on the roof top or the restaurants can be uses, so it’s more suitable for informal gatherings than conferences. The hotel has 161 bedrooms, swimming pool, fitness centre, complimentary in-room yoga and live DJ sessions.

Melia Frankfurt City

This hotel is located on levels 1 to 23 of the One Forty West building, a glass skyscraper with stunning views over the city and a 15 minute transfer from Frankfurt Airport.

The hotel has 13 flexible meeting rooms, the largest has capacity for 702 people in theatre-style. There are 431 bedrooms and suites, some of which have balconies. The restaurant is on the 15th floor, with a Skybar and there’s a gym and wellness centre.

Matild Palace, Budapest

The Matild Palace, part of Marriott International’s Luxury Collection has opened in Budapest. It was built 120 years ago during the Belle Époque era on the Pest side of the Danube next to Elisabeth Bridge. Transfer from the airport takes about 35 minutes.

There are four meeting rooms which can be divided in to seven smaller units. The largest has capacity for 100 people in theatre style.
The Madild Palace has 111 bedrooms and 19 suites. The Duchess rooftop bar will open in august and the Matild Café and Cabaret will open in September. There is a spa and gym.

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Latest news from UK hotels and venues

The UK has more hotels in the pipeline than any other European country, with almost 500 new properties due to open in the next few years. Most of these are in London, which has more than 100 hotels underway, giving the capital an additional 20,000 bedrooms. The majority will be 4* hotels, many of which are in London and there are 25 in the pipeline each for Glasgow and Edinburgh.

One Hundred Shoreditch

One Hundred Shoreditch is due to open in autumn 2021. This hotel was the Ace Hotel London, which had been operating for 7 years and announced last Summer that it would not reopen after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Located on Shoreditch High Street, One Hundred Shoreditch will have 258 bedrooms, six restaurants and bars including a rooftop bar and terrace, offering panoramic views over East London.
There will be five flexible meetings and events spaces, the largest of which has floor to ceiling glass, with views over London.

Gino D’Acampo is in partnership with Melia Hotels

The celebrity chef and Melia have announced a partnership with new restaurants opening at the INNSiDE by Melia in Manchester and Newcastle properties. The new Melia INNSide Liverpool is due to open in August of this year.

New Holiday Inn and Ibis Budget at Airport City Manchester

Airport City Manchester is developing a new hotel district of nine properties which will provide more than 2,400 bedrooms. The location is next to Manchester Airport’s ground transport centre.

The Holiday Inn, with 280 bedrooms and Ibis Budget, with 262 bdrooms are due to open in 2020 and will be the first two hotels to be completed. Accor have planning permission for a Tribe hotel, which will have 412 bedrooms.

The Carlton Tower Jumeirah reopening in July

Following major refurbishment, The Carlton Tower Jumeirah in Knightsbridge will re-open after more than 18 months. The hotel will have a new foyer and reception, restaurants, health club and spa. There are 186 bedrooms, reduced from 220 so that they could be made larger.

The conference facilities have been refurbished. The largest is the ballroom with capacity for 400 people. The three smaller rooms are flexible space with capacity for 300, 150 and 60 if used individually.

The Other House

The Oher House is a lifestyle hospitality brand of Residents’ Clubs due to open in Spring 2022. There will be two properties, which are being developed at the moment on the sites of Harrington Hall Hotel in South Kensington and the Wellington Block in Covent Garden.

The brand describes itself as a second home for guests, combining home comforts with hotel facilities and guests can stay as long as they wish. Both clubs will have about 200 club flats with a living area, sleeping area and kitchen.

Instead of large conference facilities, the properties will have small meeting rooms, private dining rooms and screening rooms.

Guests will use an app designed to operate automatic check in, keyless room entry, remote room controls, booking and ordering from the restaurants and bars.

The Other House plans to expand to other cities, once the London properties have been opened.

The Moxy Milton Keynes

Marriott’s boutique brand, The Moxy has opened in Milton Keynes. It is motor racing themed to tie into its proximity to Silverstone. The hotel has one meeting room with capacity for four people but there are also social spaces and large work-desk in the public area with charging points and fast WIFI throughout. All 210 bedrooms are equipped with 42-inch ChromeCast TVs. There’s a 24/7 Food & Beverage outlet, a coffee-shop-by-day-cocktail-bar-by night vibe and a games zone

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