UKinbound has released its latest Business Barometer results, highlighting the measures tourism businesses are putting in place to reduce their impact on the environment. Results also show bookings and yields are holding steady for two thirds of members and confidence levels have picked up.
In its latest survey, the association asked its members to comment on their sustainability practises, revealing that over 81% of tourism businesses think it is important to implement sustainable and environmental policies for their businesses and clients.
These companies are taking proactive steps to minimise the impact of their tourism business on the environment, with 59% reducing single use plastics, 49% reducing their carbon footprint, and over 1 in 5 using renewable energy.
Forty percent of respondents also said that they are working with eco-friendly partners, have ‘green champions’ in the workplace, and are recycling/reducing food waste.
Joss Croft, CEO, UKinbound commented: “It is great to know that our members care deeply about the environment and are taking positive action to minimise the impact of their businesses and clients. After all – it is in all our interests to nurture and take care of our beautiful landscapes, cities, towns and villages, as this is one of the main reasons why the majority of international tourists visit the UK.
“In addition to our research, the Environmental Audit Select Committee is conducting an inquiry into sustainable tourism. We are looking forward to reading their recommendations and supporting these where we can on behalf of our members.”
Andrea Nicholas, managing director, Green Tourism added “Over the last two years we have seen over a 400% increase from tourism and hospitality businesses wanting to explore how to improve their sustainable practises and how to evidence their achievements to their increasingly inquisitive consumers.
“Our significant growth has come from hotel groups and other hospitality businesses seeking validation and accreditation that their practises are being managed efficiently and cost effectively (particularly our new energy audit, which guarantees significant cost savings).”
The July UKinbound Business Barometer also asked members to feedback regarding business operating conditions during May and June, with 75% of businesses saying their bookings/visitor numbers/customer orders were the same or higher than May/June 2018. Yields were also the same or up for 84% of businesses during the same periods.
China and America continue to be the leading growth markets, with 43% of respondents experiencing growth from one of the two.
France and Germany continue to be the two most in decline markets, with 29% of respondents experiencing decline from one of the two.
Confidence also saw a positive increase compared to March/April data, with 57% of businesses stating they are confident about the upcoming 12 months, compared to 49% the previous two months.
For the eighth year running, Brussels is the preferred destination in Europe for association event organisers, according to the Union of International Associations’ annual ranking.
The capital of Europe has a network of more than 2,250 registered association, which represent diversified sectors.
The successful ranking is based on a number of factors, including its ideal geographical location, the presence of an important network of associations and European institutions, a network of speakers nearby, venues for special events, hotel infrastructure and a high level of multilingualism.
“Visit.brussels has invested greatly in supporting international associations and in organising their events. They are truly part of the capital’s DNA,” said Patrick Bontinck, CEO of visit.brussels.
“In this respect, in 2018 the partners form the visit.brussels Convention and Association Bureau contributed significantly to the 733 meetings of international associations held in Brussels. A big part of our 2025 strategy’s commitments is based on a deeper development of our congress and conference offer, as well as strengthening personalised services supported by international associations,” he added.
“They will be able to reap the benefits of the numerous connections that our expert will help with as well as the economic development of our region.”
Helping to strengthen Brussels’ association meetings reputation is the ESAE’s (European Association of Association Executives) Strategic Plan for 2019-2021, which launched in June.
The plan implants the vision and sets the foundation for ESAE to uphold Brussels’ position as the leading pan-European network of association leaders and the referenced knowledge source on association management, leadership and governance.
ESAE connects European association leaders and executives, supports their professional development and establishes effectiveness and professionalisation of the sector.
ESAE’s program manager, Ioannis Pallas said: “We are glad to count on visit.brussels’ extensive know-how in helping understand better and connect with association leaders from different sectors.
“Working with their extremely knowledgeable staff is a valuable practice in ESAE’s way forward to extend our outreach and provide high-quality, bottom-up services to our members.”
Exclusive Hotels and Venues, the parent company of Pennyhill Park and other luxury hotels, has been renamed as Exclusive Collection.
The new name has been chosen to reflect the group’s varied portfolio of businesses that comprises four hotels, a pub, two spas, a golf club and cookery school.
At the same time, the branding around the new name had been updated, with the traditional crests from before replaced with a simpler and more contemporary look.
Danny Pecorelli, managing director of Exclusive Collection, said: “The new name makes us sound more modern and more eclectic, which is a good thing.”
Alongside Pennyhill Park in Bagshot, Surrey, the three other hotels in Exclusive Collection are South Lodge, near Horsham, West Sussex; Lainston House, Winchester, Hampshire; and the Manor House, Castle Combe, Wiltshire.
The group also comprise two venues, Royal Berkshire in Ascot, Berkshire, and Fanhams Hall, Ware, Hertfordshire; as well as the Manor House Golf Club; the spas at Pennyhill Park and South Lodge; Castle Inn pub in Castle Combe; and Seasons Cookery School at Lainston House.
“For Exclusive Collection we have created a modern type and icon combination logo and for each property we’ve featured a single animal, some of which already occupy a place in the hotel, like the sheep at South Lodge, and some like the horse for Royal Berkshire are synonymous with the location,” said Pecorelli.
“Using animals is a great way to engender an emotional connection with the properties and separate them all, whilst giving them a unified look and feel.”
Plans for a new luxury hotel in two of Cardiff’s most historic buildings are set to be given the go-ahead.
The listed old Post office and County Court in Westgate Street, near the Principality Stadium, are set to be transformed into a four-star, 175-bed hotel operated by the Celtic Manor Resort.
Developer Rightacres and the Welsh Rugby Union are behind the plans which are set to be approved by Cardiff council’s Planning Committee next Wednesday (August 14).
Cardiff planning officers have recommended councillors approve the plans.
If plans are approved the vacant post office and county court would be refurbished while a new-build six-storey extension would be built behind the historic building.
The developers say the new Westgate Hotel would have a “prestigious” entrance hall, one of the largest function rooms in Cardiff capable of seating 350 guests, a new bar and 120-seater restaurant facing Westgate Street and a leisure spa offering views across the city.
The Westgate Hotel would be a joint partnership between the WRU, which owns the county court which has stood since 1904, and Rightacres, which owns Parkgate which hosted the post office and was built in 1896.
Both the interiors and stone facades of the two buildings would be refurbished, while the spiral staircase of Parkgate would be replaced.
A total of 17 people have objected to the plans, while HM Courts and Tribunals Services, which uses the Cardiff Civil and Family Justice Centre next door to the site, has also raised concerns.
HM Courts and Tribunals Services has told the council about “the potential for excessive noise, vibration and dust to be generated during both the demolition and construction phases of the development.
“Mitigation will be required to avoid such matters affecting the Justice Centre operations and potentially damaging the building’s ventilation plant and equipment.”
HM Courts and Tribunals Services has also raised concerns about the development’s impact on traffic to the Justice Centre.
Its letter to the council said: “The access from Westgate Street is used primarily by the judiciary who require unencumbered access, mainly at the start and end of the working day, on foot and by vehicle.
“Security is the main concern in this regard, since members of the judiciary are at risk due to the nature of their work and are, from time to time, the subject of various threats of harm.”
If planning permission is approved the developers would be asked to pay £50,000 towards improving the footpath on Westgate Street.
IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) has announced that its entire hotel estate of almost 843,000 guest rooms will switch to bulk-size bathroom amenities, with the transition to be completed during 2021. This would make it the first global hotel brand to undertake such a move.
Building on its efforts to reduce plastic waste as part of a broader sustainability agenda, this pledge makes IHG the first global hotel company to commit all brands to removing bathroom miniatures in favour of bulk-size amenities.
Keith Barr, CEO, IHG, commented: “It’s more important than ever that companies challenge themselves to operate responsibly – we know it’s what our guests, owners, colleagues, investors and suppliers rightly expect. Switching to larger-size amenities across more than 5,600 hotels around the world is a big step in the right direction and will allow us to significantly reduce our waste footprint and environmental impact as we make the change.
“We’ve already made great strides in this area, with almost a third of our estate already adopting the change and we’re proud to lead our industry by making this a brand standard for every single IHG hotel. We’re passionate about sustainability and we’ll continue to explore ways to make a positive difference to the environment and our local communities.”
IHG currently has an average of 200 million bathroom miniatures in use across its entire hotel estate every year. As the new brand standard is adopted between now and 2021, the company expects to see a significant reduction in plastic waste. This commitment builds on IHG’s pledge to remove plastic straws from its hotels by the end of 2019, and a number of broader waste reduction initiatives already in place. IHG remains a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index, and recently joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy 100 network, signalling its commitment to working with cross-industry partners to build a more sustainable world.
Switching to bulk-size amenities is a tried and tested approach at IHG and the move has already happened in about a third of its estate. Whether for business or leisure, hotel guests increasingly want their stays to be more sustainable without any impact on the quality of their experience. Several IHG brands are already achieving this today.
To support the reduction of plastic at events why not check out our blog for ideas.
The 240-bedroom hotel operated as an InterContinental property until 2005, when it was sold to what was then Principal Hayley Group and became the George hotel. It was then renamed the Principal Edinburgh George Street following the launch of the Principal brand in 2016.
After the sale of the Principal group to French-group Covivio and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) last year and “significant renovations”, it is being rebranded once more as the InterContinental Edinburgh – The George.
The property is an integration of a number of Georgian townhouses that were originally built in the 1780s.
Karan Khanna, managing director, UK & Ireland, IHG, said: “We are excited to grow our luxury presence in Scotland as we continue the integration of the Principal portfolio. Edinburgh is a key city in our home market so it’s great to reintroduce our flagship brand, InterContinental, to the city. I am confident its arrival will receive a warm welcome and the team will deliver a great service to guests.”
Tom Rowntree, vice president, global luxury brands, IHG, said: “InterContinental Edinburgh – The George is a fabulous addition to the brand, marking the return of InterContinental to Edinburgh. We look forward to helping our guests unlock the heritage of this hotel and the enchanting city of Edinburgh.”
InterContinental Edinburgh – The George is the third InterContinental in the UK, joining InterContinental London – Park Lane and InterContinental London – The O2. IHG has 349 hotels operating under eight brands in the UK, with a further 26 in the pipeline.
The ICC Cricket World Cup has boosted hotels’ performance in London but failed to stop the regions sliding.
That is according to the UK Hotel Market Tracker: Q2 2019 produced by HVS London, AlixPartners and STR, which reports London recorded continued strong growth in the second quarter of the year as hoteliers pushed rates for visitors travelling to watch the cricket.
In contrast, regional revenue per available room (revpar) decreased for the second consecutive quarter, even with numerous matches being hosted outside of the capital. The report said the combination of top line retraction, cost pressures and unrelenting new supply is putting significant pressure on regional hotel margins.
With revenue declining, costs increasing and active pipeline remaining at 6% of current supply, operators may struggle to increase profitability, particularly in locations outside the main tourist hubs or without robust corporate activity.
Revpar in London increased by 6% in the second quarter, as hoteliers benefited from sporting events including the Cricket World Cup and Major League Baseball at the London Stadium.
Active pipeline (10% of current supply) will be monitored by operators in the capital given relatively flat occupancy, but a revpar increase of over 6% over the last 12 months demonstrates how robust demand remains.
Across the UK, only £360m of transactions were completed in Q2 2019 – some £144m in London and £210m in the regions – with transaction flow continuing to be impacted by Brexit uncertainty, which is seeing deals either being put on hold or taking longer to complete.
£2.1b of transactions were completed in London in the 12 months to Q2 2019, an increase of 54% on the previous year. This figure was boosted by the sale of the Grange portfolio in Q1 (£1b) and the 163-bedroom Crowne Plaza Kensington in Q2 to a Singaporean consortium led by Heeton Holdings (£84m, or £513,000 per bedroom).
Yields in London and the regions remain tight in comparison to historical averages, although there was little evidence of further compression in Q2 2019, except in isolated cases in London.
Elisha Temple recently headed into London to build her product knowledge on what the City has to offer for meetings and events. Here part 2 of her tour…
The Ned
Overall Impression:
The Ned, a gorgeous 1920’s building situated a few steps from Bank station. When you step into The Ned you are instantly amongst people, the mingle of conversations fills the lobby as you walk through to the reception area. It is fascinating to see the original style of the building with a slight contemporary twist. With 8 individual restaurants all situated within the ground floor lobby space, there is certainly something for everyone. Semi-private seating arrangements are ideal for informal, intimate meetings, catch-ups or networking.
There are 6 meeting rooms situated on the 6th floor, a dedicated conference floor with the Tapestry room which can hold up to 200 delegates in theatre style with the Saloon included for catering, you will never run out of space. All the meeting rooms are flooded with natural daylight and traditional high ceilings which gives you an airy feel. 2 terraces are also available for exclusive hire, with stunning views of the City of London.
251 bedrooms are available on site, each of these with their own shape, size and character. Again, the 1920’s theme has been continued however a modern twist has been added to make the rooms cosy.
The NED
Considerations:
This
is the perfect location for a client looking for a traditional venue to
accommodate large conferences in the City. The gorgeous décor compliments the
history of the building and brings the original features to life.
Searcys at the Gherkin
Overall Impression:
Searcys at the Gherkin stands tall in the City of London; a short 5 minute walk from Aldgate Station. As you enter you are greeted by reception for a quick security check before heading through the barriers to the lifts. Using the lifts, you go to the 34th floor before crossing into a second lift across the corridor to the dedicated Searcys lift to the 38th floor for the conference floor.
The conference floor holds 5 meeting rooms, 4 of these rooms can merge together to make 2 larger spaces seating up to 60 delegates in theatre style. Each of the meeting rooms are flooded with natural daylight and beautiful city scape views as well as flexible seating arrangements and AV equipment. In addition, there is the opportunity to walk around the outer edge of the Gherkin and experience the breath-taking views; a perfect way to break away from a meeting.
The Helix restaurant situated on the 39th floor of the Gherkin is available for exclusive hire. Seating up to 140 delegates for dinner, this space is perfect for corporate parties. Then, moving up the stairs you have the Iris Bar. Situated at the very top of the Gherkin you receive a full 360-degree view of London. This space is also available for exclusive hire and can hold up to 100 delegates for a drink’s reception.
Searcys at the Gherkin
Considerations:
A wonderful thing about Searcys at the Gherkin as it’s minimal chic gives you the opportunity to personalise and dress each of the spaces to suit you own requirements however there is also enough design within all of the space that it will not look unfinished without it. In a great location of the City of London and with breath-taking views, this location is ideal for a client looking to impress. With plenty of natural daylight, the meeting rooms are ideal for all day meetings.
Andaz Liverpool Street
Overall Impressions:
As you enter the building you are kindly greeted by the concierge. The lobby is a contemporary, edgy space with high ceilings with plenty of space for larger groups; this is certainly a themed carried on through the hotel. Andaz is in the ideal location next to Liverpool Street station, accessibility is perfect for those travelling into London.
The conference floor is a dedicated meeting space area with 14 meetings rooms there is a space suitable for every meeting. The entire venue is incredibly blank canvas and very malleable: TV screens, meeting room signs, coloured lighting – these are just some of the elements that can be changed to suit the client. The Great Eastern is a wonderfully open space with a designated kitchen area for service, this room can seat up to 250 delegates in theatre style and comes with the Gallery area for a breakout space as well as a supper balcony for a more intimate setting. Bishops Gate is another popular room, when hiring this room, you also gain the Chancery; an ideal pair for a day meeting with a catering breakout space for minimal service disruptions.
The meeting rooms are bright and airy with high ceilings and AV equipment available in all. The Studio is a standalone, completely exclusive space with a built-in kitchen. This space is perfect for team building, boardroom meetings. The Masonic Temple is certainly a memorable space. With a gorgeous marble flooring and fixed throne seating set around the outer edge of the room, this room offers a dark, mysterious tone. Perfect for dining or even conference, the Masonic Temple is the ideal room to make a lasting impression.
Bedrooms certainly continue the contemporary, edgy style. A practical room ideal for a corporate stay for 1 or more nights.
Andaz Liverpool Street
Considerations:
As one of my favourite hotels on the visit, I feel the general style of the hotel is very fresh and modern. The staff are very friendly, polite and helpful which has a massive impact on the experience at the hotel. Andaz certainly fits the criteria for those clients looking for quirky venues in the city.
The Montcalm at The Brewery London City
Overall Impressions:
The Montcalm is neatly tucked away from Chiswell Street, a short walk from the Barbican and Moorgate Station. As you walk into the Montcalm you are greeted by the concierge team who welcome you to a gorgeous lobby. The meeting rooms are all easy to access, well-lit and beautifully displayed; perfect for conference or dining. All meeting rooms are similar in size seating up to 20 in boardroom.
The bedrooms are very spacious. Due to the nature of the building, each of the rooms are different in size. One touch I found particularly interesting was access to a mobile phone for the duration of your stay that gives you full access of use for maps, calls, emails etc – when checking out this phone is entirely wiped back to its original state ready for the next user.
The Josephine room is situated in below the restaurant; to access this restaurant you need to walk down the road. The Josephine Room is available for exclusive hire and can seat up to 20 in hollow square.
The Montcalm at The Brewery London City
Considerations:
The Montcalm is a beautiful hotel throughout and is ideal for a relaxed meeting for up to 20 delegates. The location is ideal for those travelling by train and it is a great way to escape while still being in the city.
It was officially announced that starting from 01 October 2019, simplified Electronic Visa for foreigners visiting St. Petersburg will be implemented!
Tourists and business travellers will be able to visit St. Petersburg on a simplified electronic visa starting this October under President Vladimir Putin’s new orders.
Putin has promised to offer e-visas to foreign visitors in 2021 as he vies to collect $15.5 billion in annual tourism revenue by the end of his presidential term in 2024. Tourists around the world have frequently cited difficulties with obtaining visas as a barrier to visiting Russia.
Potential tourists are directed to apply for electronic visas on the Russian Foreign Ministry website no later than four days before their arrival, the decree states. Applicants will not be charged a consular fee.
The offer will be open to citizens from a list of countries which will be announced at a later date, the decree says.
It’ll be electronic single-entry visa and will allow visitors will be able to stay in Russia for eight days out of the 30-day validity period.
The move is expected to attract 12 million tourists each year, up from the 8.2 million who visited St. Petersburg last year.
Since 2017, passport holders from 18 countries have been able to obtain free single-entry e-visas to visit Russia’s Far East Federal District. E-visa is already available for Kaliningrad and Vladivostok and now St. Petersburg is coming!
This is a positive development that Russia is opening its doors to and making it simpler to visit and experience our country.
The Glasgow Convention Bureau has reported an almost £1 million economic boost to the city’s economy after hosting the 27th International Input-Output Association Conference (IIOA).
The IIOA conference, which was held at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre, came to the UK for the first time and attracted a record number of delegates from nearly 50 countries.
The week-long conference focuses on the advancement of knowledge in the field of date compilation and economic statistics and its uses across a wide variety of sectors. This year, in particular, the conference concentrated on sustainability and minimising the environmental impact of a conference on its host destination.
“Conferences can be a major contributor to greenhouse gas applying emissions through things like delegate travel, meals and paper use, and the IIOA is developing and implementing strategies that compensate for some of the ecological footprint caused by our international meetings,” said Sanjiv Mahajan conference chair and vice president of The International Input-Output Association.
“This is our first ever UK conference and we were delighted to come to Glasgow, which has established a strong reputation for its commitment to sustainability and promoting responsible business tourism. We asked delegates if they would like to make a small voluntary donation to support the work of local environmental charities and I’m delighted that we were able to split £1,000 between Energy Action Scotland and the Woodland Trust in Scotland.”
The IIOA conference fits in with Glasgow’s goals of becoming one of Europe’s most sustainable business tourism cities after being listed 7th out of 35 countries in the Global Destination Sustainability Index.
“Our sustainability team has worked hard to identify ways that we can support clients like the IIOA to minimise the environmental impact of their meetings,” said Gordon Hodge, head of conferencing and events at the University of Strathclyde.
“Even simple gestures like encouraging delegates to bring their own water bottles to fill up for free; smart menu choices which include more vegetarian or vegan options; or making the most of our city-centre location and connectivity with public transport, can make a difference. We’re committed to doing our bit to reduce the University’s carbon footprint and to prove that people really can make Glasgow greener, even if they’re only in the city for a few days.”
