Hilton Munich City is completing refurbishment of the public areas, guest rooms, fitness centre, bar, restaurant and meeting facilities which will transform this 4* hotel.
The location of this hotel is in the city centre, in 10-minutes walking distance of the major attractions. It is above the Rosenheimer Platz S-Bahn station with a lift to the Lobby, which has a direct connection to the airport, convention centre and main railway station. The airport transfer takes about 30 minutes (35km).
There are nine meeting rooms. The largest is the ballroom which has capacity for 300 in theatre-style with a large foyer and courtyard, as well as seven seven multi-purpose rooms and a boardroom. All meeting rooms are located on the ground floor.
The Hilton Munich City has 483 bedrooms and suites and there is an Executive Lounge with terrace. In addition, facilities include a 24-hour gym, the Juliet Rose Bar and Mona Restaurant.
This hotel was awarded Germany’s Leading City Hotel 2019 at the World Travel Awards Europe 2019.
Radisson Hotel Group has confirmed plans to open a 430-bedroom Radisson Blu hotel at the London Resort, a 535-acre resort set to open in Kent in 2024.
Created in partnership with American film studio Paramount Picture Corporation it will be one of the biggest themed entertainment resorts in Europe and will include a theme park, water park, cinema, theatre, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets.
Radisson Hotel Group will become a stakeholder in the project as well as opening the upscale branded property, which will feature a bar and restaurant, meeting and event spaces and leisure facilities, including a spa and swimming pool.
Elie Younes, executive vice president and chief development officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We are delighted to be part of such an iconic and unique project that is breaking new ground and bringing together an exciting mix of global brands. We strive to create memorable experiences for our guests, and this is the perfect opportunity to do just that.”
PY Gerbeau, chief executive of London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH), said: “Radisson Hotel Group’s commitment to the resort represents a significant milestone and is testimony to the absolute conviction the team has to deliver this project.”
In the UK, Radisson Hotel Group operates 26 hotels under the Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED and Park Inn by Radisson brands. Radisson’s partner Edwardian Hotels London operates 12 hotels, and partner PPHE Hotel Group operates 11 hotels.
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.
Situated at the most southerly point of Norway, a restaurant 5 metres underwater, opened earlier this year. The restaurant was built on a barge before being submerged and bolted to a concrete slab anchored to the bedrock beneath the sea bed and it’s the world’s largest and Europe’s first underwater restaurant.
Under is designed to look like a rock formation above the ground. The entrance is above the water, clad in oak and guests descend to a mezzanine level where the bar area is situated and there’s a vertical window where guests have a split level view of air and sea. The dining area is down further with a huge window to look at the seabed, which changes in colour throughout the day and seasons, from sapphire blue on a cold Winter’s day, to emerald green in the Summer. Depending on the season the fish species that can be seen are pollack, cod, colourful wrasse, urchins, crabs, lobsters, spiny dogfish and kelp.
The plan is for the structure to integrate with the marine environment over time. Its half-metre-thick concrete walls are built to withstand pressure and shock from the sea conditions, while the rough shell will function as an artificial reef for marina flora and fauna. The restaurant collaborated with the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomic Research to create optimal conditions on the surrounding seabed so that fish and shellfish can thrive.
Under has seating capacity for 100 guests, but on normal nights it will serve 40 guests. The menu includes fish and seafood and also the option of tasting seabirds and wild sheep from the surrounding area.
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.
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.
