One of Madrid's oldest hotels has undergone a modern makeover
Some 130 years after first opening its doors, the Madrid’s Gran Hotel Inglés has undergone a modern transformation and is now being reimagined as a sophisticated boutique hotel. Gran Hotel Inglés opened in 1886 and was Madrid’s first luxury hotel. This year the Gran Hotel Inglés reopened as a new member of Leading Hotels of the World, following a US$20 million makeover by the Rockwell Group, whose portfolio includes the New York Edition, the Ritz-Carlton in Boston and the W in Paris and Singapore. Rockwell drew inspiration from the hotel’s golden years of the 1920s with his remodelling process and the hotel is an ode to Art Deco style in shades of burnt orange, teal and silver. The lobby’s 20 foot-high ceiling glows with chandeliers, and vintage postcards of Madrid, which were discovered during the renovation, are on display in glass cases. To allow for more spacious accommodation, the number of rooms has been reduced from 72 to 48 (43 rooms and five suites). The hotel stakes a prime spot on Echegaray Street in Barrio de las Letras (Madrid’s literary quarter). It’s just across the street from La Venencia, reportedly Hemingway’s favourite sherry bar in the city, and is just a five-minute walk from Puerta del Sol – one of Madrid’s liveliest public squares.
Can Brooklands Hotel add something unique to your meeting?
Named after the world’s first purpose build race track where the hotel is based, the Brooklands hotel takes great inspiration from its racetrack history. There are 131 bedrooms and suites, some of which have views over the Mercedes Benz race track.
The hotel offers 9 meeting spaces which can be accessed via a private entrance complete with a dedicated kitchen and bar. The meeting rooms are all kitted out with state-of-the-art AV equipment and have plenty of natural daylight. Many of the spaces offer views over the race track.
For those looking for a dining experience the 1907 restaurant (named after the year the Brooklands racetrack opened) offers contemporary service with a 1920s and 30s inspired setting.
Being next door to Mercedes-Benz world, there are plenty of options for team building activities, from off-road 4×4 driving to racing simulators. The Brooklands hotel itself can also offer plenty of team building options on site including wine tasting and murder mystery nights.
Istanbul New Airport, on shores of the Black Sea, will serve 90 million passengers annually in its first phase. At its completion in 10 years, it will occupy nearly 19,000 acres and serve up to 200 million travellers a year with six runways. That’s almost double the traffic at world’s biggest airport currently, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson. The airport’s interiors nod to Turkish and Islamic designs, and its tulip-shaped air traffic control tower won the 2016 International Architecture Award. It also uses mobile applications and artificial intelligence for customers, is energy efficient and boasts a high-tech security system.
All aviation operations will move there at the end of December when Istanbul’s main international airport, named after Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is closed down. Ataturk Airport now handles 64 million people a year. On the Asian side of the city, Sabiha Gokcen Airport handled 31 million passengers last year. It will remain open.
Tens of thousands of workers have been scrambling to finish the airport to meet Erdogan’s Oct. 29 deadline. Protests in September over poor working conditions and dozens of construction deaths have highlighted the human cost of the project.
Istanbul New Airport, on shores of the Black Sea, will serve 90 million passengers annually in its first phase. At its completion in 10 years, it will occupy nearly 19,000 acres and serve up to 200 million travellers a year with six runways. That’s almost double the traffic at world’s biggest airport currently, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson. The airport’s interiors nod to Turkish and Islamic designs, and its tulip-shaped air traffic control tower won the 2016 International Architecture Award. It also uses mobile applications and artificial intelligence for customers, is energy efficient and boasts a high-tech security system.
All aviation operations will move there at the end of December when Istanbul’s main international airport, named after Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is closed down. Ataturk Airport now handles 64 million people a year. On the Asian side of the city, Sabiha Gokcen Airport handled 31 million passengers last year. It will remain open.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unveiled Istanbul New Airport, a mega project that may eventually become the world’s largest air-transport hub on the 95th anniversary of Turkey’s establishment as a republic. It’s a symbolic launch, as only limited flights will begin days later and a full schedule of service won’t take place until the end of the year.
Tens of thousands of workers have been scrambling to finish the airport to meet Erdogan’s Oct. 29 deadline. Protests in September over poor working conditions and dozens of construction deaths have highlighted the human cost of the project.
Istanbul New Airport, on shores of the Black Sea, will serve 90 million passengers annually in its first phase. At its completion in 10 years, it will occupy nearly 19,000 acres and serve up to 200 million travellers a year with six runways. That’s almost double the traffic at world’s biggest airport currently, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson. The airport’s interiors nod to Turkish and Islamic designs, and its tulip-shaped air traffic control tower won the 2016 International Architecture Award. It also uses mobile applications and artificial intelligence for customers, is energy efficient and boasts a high-tech security system.
All aviation operations will move there at the end of December when Istanbul’s main international airport, named after Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is closed down. Ataturk Airport now handles 64 million people a year. On the Asian side of the city, Sabiha Gokcen Airport handled 31 million passengers last year. It will remain open.
Istanbul opens huge new airport
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan has unveiled Istanbul New Airport, a mega project that may eventually become the world’s largest air-transport hub on the 95th anniversary of Turkey’s establishment as a republic. It’s a symbolic launch, as only limited flights will begin days later and a full schedule of service won’t take place until the end of the year.
Tens of thousands of workers have been scrambling to finish the airport to meet Erdogan’s Oct. 29 deadline. Protests in September over poor working conditions and dozens of construction deaths have highlighted the human cost of the project.
Istanbul New Airport, on shores of the Black Sea, will serve 90 million passengers annually in its first phase. At its completion in 10 years, it will occupy nearly 19,000 acres and serve up to 200 million travellers a year with six runways. That’s almost double the traffic at world’s biggest airport currently, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson. The airport’s interiors nod to Turkish and Islamic designs, and its tulip-shaped air traffic control tower won the 2016 International Architecture Award. It also uses mobile applications and artificial intelligence for customers, is energy efficient and boasts a high-tech security system.
All aviation operations will move there at the end of December when Istanbul’s main international airport, named after Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is closed down. Ataturk Airport now handles 64 million people a year. On the Asian side of the city, Sabiha Gokcen Airport handled 31 million passengers last year. It will remain open.
The Sofia joins other recent additions to the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, including the newly opened Nish Palas in Istanbul and the iconic Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France. Additional properties expected to open and join the collection in the near future include the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London, the Párisi Udvar Hotel in Budapest and the Hôtel du Louvre, signalling significant growth for the brand across the region.
The Hotel Sofia in Barcelona, Spain, will join the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a global portfolio of independent properties. Owned and managed by the Selenta Group, the 465-room hotel became Barcelona’s first five-star property upon opening in 1975. As announced on Monday, a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Selenta to allow the Sofia to become a member of the collection. The hotel was named for Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark, wife to Spain’s former King Juan Carlos I, and served as her home when she visited Barcelona. It is in an upscale neighbourhood on Avenida Diagonal, one of the main thoroughfares in the heart of town, near Camp Nou stadium. On-site are five restaurants, an elegant Mediterranean-inspired spa, a tropical garden pool and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.
The Sofia joins other recent additions to the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, including the newly opened Nish Palas in Istanbul and the iconic Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France. Additional properties expected to open and join the collection in the near future include the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London, the Párisi Udvar Hotel in Budapest and the Hôtel du Louvre, signalling significant growth for the brand across the region.
Unbound Collection by Hyatt grows with Barcelona’s Hotel Sofia
The Hotel Sofia in Barcelona, Spain, will join the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a global portfolio of independent properties. Owned and managed by the Selenta Group, the 465-room hotel became Barcelona’s first five-star property upon opening in 1975. As announced on Monday, a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Selenta to allow the Sofia to become a member of the collection. The hotel was named for Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark, wife to Spain’s former King Juan Carlos I, and served as her home when she visited Barcelona. It is in an upscale neighbourhood on Avenida Diagonal, one of the main thoroughfares in the heart of town, near Camp Nou stadium. On-site are five restaurants, an elegant Mediterranean-inspired spa, a tropical garden pool and a state-of-the-art fitness centre.
The Sofia joins other recent additions to the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, including the newly opened Nish Palas in Istanbul and the iconic Hotel Martinez in Cannes, France. Additional properties expected to open and join the collection in the near future include the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London, the Párisi Udvar Hotel in Budapest and the Hôtel du Louvre, signalling significant growth for the brand across the region.
A new multi-million pound event space called Magazine London is set to open in summer 2019.
Construction of the venue is due to start in December and is located in the heart of Greenwich Peninsula on the riverbank with views of Canary Wharf and have capacity for 3,000 people.
The venue’s indoor space, will have an adjoining ‘Showground’ – a landscaped environment on the banks of the Thames with a capacity of 7,000 and catering will be supplied by the award-winning Moving Venue. Due to its location Magazine London, will benefit from excellent transport links and is only eight minutes travel time from central London.
Tewkesbury Park completes final phase of £10m redevelopment
A new restaurant has been unveiled at Tewkesbury Park, marking the final piece in the puzzle of a £10m, four-year redevelopment at the hotel on the edge of the Cotswolds.
Mint is the new destination restaurant at the family-run hotel which has recently completed an extensive four-year renovation costing nearly £10m, with the addition of nine suites, two new spa rooms, two meeting rooms, an orangery, a cocktail lounge and the Cotswolds suite, an events suite – complete with a wood-fired pizza oven and terrace.
All other communal areas and leisure facilities have also been completely refurbished.
The ongoing growth of the Event Management Apprenticeship programme marks a new milestone with the launch of its new web portal. At the same time a new name is applied to the programme, now known as Get into Events, and can be seen here www.getintoevents.org.uk.
This hub of information will be further developed in the coming months, providing a central resource of information for employers, apprentices, and industry stakeholders.
The launch of the website also marks the establishment of an industry Community Interest Company that will own and develop the apprenticeship programme in partnership with industry. Sarah Wright, Director of the company and a founder of the Event Management Apprenticeship Programme said “we have massive ambition for the development of this apprenticeship programme, setting a new training route for our industry, and providing access to a new pipeline of industry talent”.
Currently over 80 apprentices are employed and enrolled in the Government’s Trailblazer Event Assistant Apprentice Standard. Mark Riches, Chair of the Event Management Apprenticeship Programme said “We have achieved our first goal of having more than 50 event management apprentices within the first 18-months of launching the scheme, but we want more than 200 within the first three years. Additionally we need more industry involved in shaping this programme, particularly as we develop the higher apprenticeship standards”. The current standard is a Level 3 apprenticeship, but the scheme’s ambition is to develop levels through to 6 and 7, which are equivalent to foundation degrees (full bachelor’s and master’s).
The new industry body that launches this week is a community interest company, designated as a not for profit, and will hold its first meeting at the InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane on Thursday 8th November. The meeting is open to all industry stakeholders and invitations to become Board Members are on the Get into Events website. Simon Hughes, Vice Chair of industry body BVEP, is a founding Director of the new body and says “there is a lot of interest by industry in developing the apprentice training route, hence establishing this independent company to own this scheme and drive it’s growth. Now is the opportunity for industry to become involved and help shape this programme, either by attending our meetings, or by joining the Board.”
For further information please contact:
Mark Riches, Chair, Event Management Apprenticeship Board: mark.riches@firstagency.com and 07976 269 210
Sarah Wright, Employer Engagement Director, Event Management Apprenticeship Board: EMAP@wright-hq.com and 07921 865 534
Simon Hughes, Stakeholder and Sponsorship Director , Event Management Apprenticeship Board: simon@mchassociates.com and 07730 064 222
Dorchester Collection’s Milanese property, Hotel Principe di Savoia has renovated its event spaces. Dominating the Piazza della Repubblica in Milan, the landmark neo-classical building has been the natural home for international travellers and cosmopolitan society since the 1920s. The rerfurb of the events spaces has seen an update of the banqueting rooms, which will see a new design with softer fabrics, colours and the latest technology. Guests can choose from 301 rooms at the hotel, 44 of which are suites. The Principe has a total of 11 exclusive events spaces, which can be combined upon request, and the largest meeting space of any five-star hotel in Milan, accommodating up to 1000 guests across 1112 sqm.
A year on from its opening, The Curtain, a lifestyle hotel and members club in east London has launched The Design Studio, described as “an innovative new co-working space that mixes business with pleasure”. Open to The Curtain’s members and hotel guests, the Design Studio “functions both as a space to work and a cultural space, garlanded with beautiful artwork and a schedule of events and talks planned for the coming months”.
Concurrently, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Bar Boulud will reopen. The former, which will relaunch under the leadership of chef John Barber, promises classic French cuisine with a contemporary British twist. The latter, helmed by chef Ashley Palmer-Watts, will unveil a new selection of dishes while continuing to offer its famous “meat fruit” chicken liver parfait. The Rosebery, which offers an afternoon tea service and treats by executive pastry chef Paul Thieblemont, will also be open to the public.
The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park will partially reopen on Dec. 4, having undergone extensive repairs and renovations since a fire in June, after which the hotel was shuttered. The hotel will initially reopen revamped public areas, restaurants, the spa and event spaces. A full reopening, including the unveiling of all new guest rooms and suites, is slated for spring 2019. The updated public spaces include the transformed lobby lounge and reception areas created by designer Joyce Wang, both of which will be anchored by floral-inspired glass chandeliers. Restoration of the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park’s event spaces — including the Loggia, Ballroom, Asquith and Balfour venues — has also been spearheaded by Wang.
Concurrently, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Bar Boulud will reopen. The former, which will relaunch under the leadership of chef John Barber, promises classic French cuisine with a contemporary British twist. The latter, helmed by chef Ashley Palmer-Watts, will unveil a new selection of dishes while continuing to offer its famous “meat fruit” chicken liver parfait. The Rosebery, which offers an afternoon tea service and treats by executive pastry chef Paul Thieblemont, will also be open to the public.
The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park will partially reopen on Dec. 4, having undergone extensive repairs and renovations since a fire in June, after which the hotel was shuttered. The hotel will initially reopen revamped public areas, restaurants, the spa and event spaces. A full reopening, including the unveiling of all new guest rooms and suites, is slated for spring 2019. The updated public spaces include the transformed lobby lounge and reception areas created by designer Joyce Wang, both of which will be anchored by floral-inspired glass chandeliers. Restoration of the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park’s event spaces — including the Loggia, Ballroom, Asquith and Balfour venues — has also been spearheaded by Wang.
Concurrently, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal and Bar Boulud will reopen. The former, which will relaunch under the leadership of chef John Barber, promises classic French cuisine with a contemporary British twist. The latter, helmed by chef Ashley Palmer-Watts, will unveil a new selection of dishes while continuing to offer its famous “meat fruit” chicken liver parfait. The Rosebery, which offers an afternoon tea service and treats by executive pastry chef Paul Thieblemont, will also be open to the public.
