The Castle Inn in Castle Coombe is bought by Exclusive Hotels
Exclusive Hotels and Venues is buying the 11-bedroom Castle Inn, which is beside the Manor House which it already owns. The two properties are in Castle Coombe, Wiltshire and the sale is due to be completed by 30th January.
The Manor House has 48-bedrooms and the addition of the Castle Inn will add two more bedrooms through the refurbishment of a cottage within its grounds.
The company is also currently expanding through the development of a £11.5m spa at South Lodge. The group currently consists of three five star hotels: Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, Surrey, South Lodge in Lower Bedding, West Sussex, and Lainston House, near Winchester, Hampshire as well as two meeting venues: Fanhams Hall, Ware, Hertfordshire and Royal Berkshire, Ascot, Berkshire.
Airbnb – how will it affect the hotel and meeting industry?
Morgan Stanley recently published a survey of 4.000 people which has shown that 12% of leisure and business travellers have used Airbnb and this figure is increasing.
The estimate is that next year 18% leisure and 16% of business travellers will use the service and there is opportunity for further increase as both categories are 90%+ satisfied and only 41% of our survey sample was aware of Airbnb and 25% had tried it.
Price is the primary reason that people use Airbnb, however 66% of American Airbnb users earn more than $75,000 a year, contradicting the popular belief that the users are college students, millennials and individuals with lower incomes.
Less than half of Airbnb demand coming at the expense of traditional hotels:
42% of Airbnb users are substituting traditional hotels
36% switch from bed & breakfasts
31% are using Airbnb rather than staying with friends and family
20% are using Airbnb rather than holiday rental
7% of Airbnb users stay 1 night (it is 25% for traditional hotels)
The report indicates that Airbnb is taking business from non-hotel, leisure, longer-duration stays, rather than corporate single-night stays due to safety and privacy concerns, amenities such as loyalty programs, business centres, restaurants etc. Overall around 70% of hotels’ business is from corporate demand. Morgan Stanley’s survey shows that Airbnb leisure use is growing faster than corporate use and however, it could have negative impact on annual hotel occupancies and annual RevPAR growth.
A new 5*GL hotel is opening on 16th January. Part of the H10 group, the One is located close to Passeig de Gràcia and has 89 guest rooms & suites.
There are two meeting rooms, both with natural daylight, which are contemporary in style. Combined the capacity is 60 in theatre-style or as two separate rooms 36 and 18 in each.
There is a roof-top terrace with views over the city.
The Felbridge Hotel has been rebranded as the Crowne Plaza Felbridge
The Felbridge Hotel near East Grinstead has plans to spend £3m on refurbishment and it will be rebranded as the Crowne Plaza Felbridge.
The refurbishment work will be carried out in April this year and the hotel’s public areas, restaurant, meeting rooms, banqueting suites, 116 bedrooms and suites will all be renovated. A private dining area will be created in the Bay Tree Restaurant.
The hotel has 7 meeting rooms and a maximum capacity of 500 in theatre style.
London Heathrow Marriott has unveiled its brand new conference and meeting space after undergoing an extensive, multi-million pound refurbishment programme.
This is 14 fully, redesigned meeting rooms with the vision to provide state-of-the-art conference facilities. The new conference space now offers a maximum meeting room capacity of up to 480 people and all rooms are equipped with innovative technology such as Write on Walls, Barco Clickshare, LED screens, Bluetooth sound bars and an integrated PA system.
Speaking about the refurbishment, general manager, Ron Vos, said: “We are delighted with our new conference space and we’ve had very positive responses from the show-rounds so far.“The renovation covers 900 square metres and we’ve moved away from the traditional, offering innovative, modern solutions for our meeting delegates. The space is perfect for larger conferences and exhibitions – proving to be especially important given the fact that many overseas conferences are opting to stay in Heathrow instead of going in to Central London.We’re keen to provide our visitors with the very best stay and I’m sure the new conference facilities will play a pivotal role in delivering guest satisfaction.”
London Heathrow Marriott reveals new conference space!
London Heathrow Marriott has unveiled its brand new conference and meeting space after undergoing an extensive, multi-million pound refurbishment programme.
This is 14 fully, redesigned meeting rooms with the vision to provide state-of-the-art conference facilities. The new conference space now offers a maximum meeting room capacity of up to 480 people and all rooms are equipped with innovative technology such as Write on Walls, Barco Clickshare, LED screens, Bluetooth sound bars and an integrated PA system.
Speaking about the refurbishment, general manager, Ron Vos, said: “We are delighted with our new conference space and we’ve had very positive responses from the show-rounds so far.“The renovation covers 900 square metres and we’ve moved away from the traditional, offering innovative, modern solutions for our meeting delegates. The space is perfect for larger conferences and exhibitions – proving to be especially important given the fact that many overseas conferences are opting to stay in Heathrow instead of going in to Central London.We’re keen to provide our visitors with the very best stay and I’m sure the new conference facilities will play a pivotal role in delivering guest satisfaction.”
Official opening of the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques hotel
In December Madrid officially welcomed a new luxury establishment into its fold: the Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques. The hotel is located in the building which, in the 1990s, housed the Ambassador Hotel. The Mallorcan chain gave it a complete overhaul, salvaging to the greatest extent possible the architectural features of the former Neo-Renaissance palace the hotel was built over, while introducing a contemporary flair. The hotel is located in a building which was once the Convent of Santo Domingo and the palace of residence of the Duke of Granada de Ega.
Thanks to the extraordinary work of architects Álvaro and Adriana Sans, in close collaboration with the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage of Madrid and with over 20 million euros invested to date, Meliá Hotels International has designed a unique hotel that recreates the former ducal mansion and brings to life the historical gardens and magical stables of years gone by.
In addition to being a hotel and destination for high-end travellers from all over the world, Gran Meliá Palacio de los Duques aspires to become a new social and gastronomic hub in Madrid. To this end it offers its visitors a rooftop terrace with pool, jacuzzi and the best panoramic views of the city, as well as an interesting range of culinary options, including the restaurants Coroa (international cuisine open 24 hours), Montmartre (French-Spanish cuisine and wine bar) and a signature restaurant, Dos Cielos Madrid, helmed by famous Spanish chefs Sergio and Javier Torres.
There are a lot of good reasons to hold your events in Paris, not only the speedy ,Eurostar service from London, so take a look at what’s new for 2017:
Enjoy a magical gastronomic experience
Visit the magnificent Palace of Versailles, where the newly-renovated Pavillon Dufour is home to Ore, the restaurant belonging to chef Alain Ducasse. In the daytime it’s a delightful contemporary cafe and an exceptional restaurant in the evening, is a perfect showcase for French art de vivre with a breathtaking view of the Royal Courtyard. The venue is available for partial or full private hire, for up to 124 people.
Plan an event at the heart of the first eco-responsible space
The Fondation GoodPlanet – Domaine de Longchamp, an impressive eco-responsible event venue working in partnership with the Noctis Group. It consists of a 2,400 m² chateau comprising two pavilions (400 m² and 800 m²) and a medieval tower. Situated in the middle of the Bois de Boulogne, it is dedicated to tackling ecological challenges and the challenges of living together in a better way. Awareness of these issues is raised through a programme of art events, educational and country itineraries, as well as accessible food (cooking schools, food trucks).
The chateau has a large room (506 m²) on the ground floor that can accommodate up to 900 people, with an adjoining terrace (200 m²). The first and second floors have large galleries presenting numerous works of art. On the first floor, a 96-seat auditorium is available for your conferences. Around the venue is a wooded 3.5 acre park, surrounded by a water course. There is also a fully-modular outdoor space (1,000 m²) for your events. What’s more, on sunny days, the Clairière (a huge green space) provides a ‘rustic’ lounge space, an area with a bar/food trucks, and a stage area with sound and lighting.
Connect with nature
Villages Nature will open in spring 2017 and is quite simply a new way of life. From apartments to cottages, in the village or by the lake, this new accommodation concept offers 3 ranges of accommodation: Cocoon VIP, Country Premium and Clan Comfort. Your stay includes free and unlimited access to five worlds: Aqualagon (a huge 9,000 m² water park), BelleVie Farm, the Extraordinary Gardens (devoted to Earth, Fire, Air and Water), the Forest of Legends with outdoor games and treehouses, and the Lakeside Promenade with its hanging gardens and pleasant areas to stroll, have something to eat or do some shopping.
Celebrate 25 years of Disneyland Paris during a corporate event
The Disneyland Paris theme park is celebrating its 25th anniversary! Plan your event at the brand new 7,200 m² Disney Events Arena (by Disney Business Solutions Paris), entirely redesigned to adapt to all types of configurations (up to 6,000 people for a cocktail reception). For your next team building event, let ‘the force be with you’ by attending the new night-time Star Wars show ‘A Galactic Celebration’, or a private show during the private hire of the Park. For a totally immersive experience, your private evening becomes a veritable journey into a far-off galaxy. Take advantage of a galactic cocktail party or dinner with a DJ from outer space and the presence of iconic characters.
A new cultural space – Grand Musée du Parfum
A true symbol of French art de vivre, and the former couture house of Christian Lacroix, the Grand Musée du Parfum opened in December 2016 within a 1,400 m² Parisian hôtel particulier, in the 8th arrondissement. This new institution offers an visit that is both educational fun and immersive to learn all about the mysteries of the world of perfume and the perfume making process. The Museum also has numerous spaces available for private hire: the ‘Suite’ space can host 12 people for a sit-down meal and 20 people for a cocktail reception. The 3rd floor, with 2 meeting rooms and a gallery, accommodates 50 people. The White Club can host 50 people for a sit-down meal and 80 people for a cocktail reception. It is possible to privately hire the entire Museum and the garden for an outdoor event.
Take in a concert or sporting fixture
The recently renovated AccorHotels Arena (formerly Bercy), a show and sporting venue, has an exciting programme of events lined up for you in 2017! Look out for the pop/R & B concert phenomenon The Weekend (28 February 2017), the return of Phil Collins to the stage (from 18 to 23 June 2017) and a one-off concert by Elton John, in Paris (1 December 2017). On the sporting scene, enjoy the World Handball Championship (from 11 to 29 January 2017) or the World Ice Hockey Championship (from 5 to 21 May 2017). Wrestling competitors will be competing in the World Championship (from 21 to 26 August 2017). The venue has a new 2,000 m² lobby and large spaces given over to catering and entertainment. The 8 spaces available for private hire can host between 20 and 450 people for conferences, cocktail parties and business seminars.
Admire the works of Vermeer at Musée du Louve
‘The Sphinx of Delft’, a reference to Vermeer, conveys an enigmatic and solitary image of the artist. The Louvre Museum is devoting an exhibition from 22 February to 22 May 2017 to the who painted the famous paintings Girl with a Pearl Earring and The Milkmaid. You will learn how Vermeer and his contemporaries admired and took inspiration from one another between 1650 and 1675. The museum has spaces available for private hire for events: cocktail receptions, gala evenings, prize givings, talks … It also offers private visits of the permanent collections, (which cover 73,000 m²), for a privileged experience!
New transit facilities at Charles de Gaulle Airport
Go to Hall L of Terminal 2E to enjoy a rest for a few hours or overnight. The Instant Paris (YOTELAIR) 4,500 m² space provides places to relax/sleep without having to leave the airport thanks to its air-side hotel with 80 ‘cabin’ rooms boasting modern and functional design. Travellers in transit, for at least 3 hours, can also benefit from the 4,500 m² Instant Paris facilities: a dining area offering fair-trade and organic culinary flavours from around the world; a lounge area with a giant screen to keep up to date with the latest news, major sporting events and short films about Paris. Plus, there is a library with more than 300 international books, and comfy chairs to relax in and enjoy a coffee whilst reading the national and international press on self-service tablets. With automatic registration terminals, hi-tech walls, automatic light system and high-speed Wi-Fi … You’ll find everything for a comfortable stop-over!
One Aldwych, Convent Garden recently came to see us and here’s the latest news from this centrally located London Hotel:
One Aldwych has two restaurants Indigo & Eneko. The Indigo kitchen has recently been refutbished and now offers a completely gluten and dairy lunch and dinner menu and diners haven’t been able to tell the difference. Eneko at One Aldwych showcases renowned chef Eneko Atxa’s fresh modern Basque dishes in his exciting new restaurant in London’s vibrant Covent Garden. The lively restaurant and wine bar is a new departure for Eneko Atxa whose three-Michelin Azurmendi restaurant, in Bilbao, Spain is no.16 in the World’s Top 50 Restaurants.
One Aldwych features four versatile event spaces ranging from boardroom for 12 guests to theatre-style for up to 50 guests, plus a 30 seat screening room.
The chlorine free swimming pool with underwater music is a hidden gem and feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of London, located in the tranquil setting of The Health Club at One Aldwych.
Lounge at One is a fully-serviced, guest-only lounge located on the ground floor, opposite the main entrance. The spacious lounge is run by dedicated hosts and features comfortable sofas and a selection of books which have been selected by celebrated British designer Paul Smith. Enjoy afternoon tea inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in a private dining room for groups of 12 to 30 people.
CCT Venues have extended their flagship property at Bank Street in the heart of Canary Wharf. The rooms carry the same corporate luxury as you’d expect on Level 32 where their previous rooms sit, but offer the ability of complete exclusivity if clients do not want to share the floor with anyone. The new floor which is located on Level 29 comprises of three rooms (all facing that iconic London view), along with its own reception, lounge, servery, bar and chill-out area. This new floor is now open and ready to take bookings for any corporate event in the area.
The Ned is due to open in Spring 2017 and is located in the former Midland Bank building, originally designed by Sir Edwin ‘Ned’ Lutyens. It is a private club and The Grill Room, a classic steak restaurant, the Vault Room, a bar serving cocktails and the eighth-floor rooftop with 10-metre lap pool lined with Italian marble will only be available to members.
However, the Ned will have six rooms and two terraces which can be hired privately, all with natural daylight and a dedicated reception area:
The Tapestry Room – the tapestry which wraps all four walls of the room was the largest ever produced in England when it was created in the 1920s. Its walnut panelling and chandeliers are also original.
The Saloon – dominated by an 18th century chandelier from London’s Devonshire House, The Saloon has ornate plasterwork, a restored parquet floor and a custom-made Oushak rug.
The Drawing Room – connected to the Saloon, has the feel of a library, with painted, panelled walls, etchings, lithographs and paintings from the period.
The RWB room – the only room lined with oak rather than walnut panelling, The RWB Room, named after the owner, Ronald Wayne Burkle, is an intimate space with period art on the walls.
The Wren Room – named after Sir Christopher Wren, who designed St Mildred’s Church, a previous occupant of the 27 Poultry site, this room has original chandeliers, wood panelling and a carpet inspired by large-leaf Verdure tapestries.
The Rose Room – named after the Rose Tavern, which occupied the site before it was destroyed by the Great Fire, The Rose Room has original chandeliers, half-height panelling and a bespoke carpet.
The Ned will have 252 bedrooms in 12 categories decorated in 1920s style. The Grand Banking Hall will contain nine restaurants and the former central reception desk, previously manned by bank staff, will be transformed into a stage for jazz performances, which will be seen and heard from most of the restaurants. There will be rooftop and indoor swimming pools, a gym and spa.
