Category: Blog

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Inside the Dubai Exhibition Centre, host venue of Expo 2020

The team behind the in-construction Dubai Exhibition Centre has released a ‘fly-through’ video of the venue, ahead of its opening on 20 October 2020.

The venue will be home to Expo 2020, the six-month world expo taking place in Dubai next year.

DEC will comprise 45,000sqm of space spread across two campuses, a theatre, auditorium, several multi-purpose halls, four suites and 24 meeting rooms.

The DEC aims to create a legacy of business and tourism in the region, encouraging a sustainable and diversified economy in line with UAE Vision 2021 – a set of national priorities to mark the country’s Golden Jubilee.

Ahmed Al Khatib, Chief Delivery Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “By any standard, the Dubai Exhibition Centre will be a cutting-edge venue that will play a pivotal role during Expo 2020.

“But the impact of such a unique space will stretch well beyond the six months of the Expo, boosting the region’s meetings and events industry, furthering the UAE’s reputation as a destination for major conferences, and fuelling growth in Dubai’s knowledge-based economy for many years to come.”

Shaun Vorster, Vice President, Strategy and Business Integration – Programming at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “There will be no place on the planet offering more exceptional business networking opportunities than Expo 2020 Dubai, and the DEC will be right at its heart.

“Bookings are already going well and this latest 3D animated fly-through, which gives a taster of the high-tech facilities on offer, has already sparked keen interest among the 190 countries participating in Expo 2020.”

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Conference and Hospitality Show 2019 welcomes 1,350 attendees

The 2019 Conference & Hospitality Show welcomed 1,350 attendees to the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 30 April.

Attendance was up by 10% from last year, as were pre-registration numbers. The event had a 74% conversion rate from pre-reg to attending the show.

Emma Cartmell, CEO of CHS Group, said: “We’re delighted with the response we’ve had to the Conference & Hospitality Show (CHS19) this year. 

“We’re blessed with a really loyal following who come to CHS every year and the 10th anniversary status has also attracted a high percentage of new exhibitors and visitors this year who will get to experience Leeds hospitality for the first time.”

“The city has been very good to us and Leeds BID, who have described CHS as the conferencing ‘jewel in the crown’ has been a great support, particularly when we upscaled to First Direct Arena. 

“An economic impact survey estimated the show attracted £0.5m to the city in 2017, our estimates predict we are on target to substantially beat that figure this year.”

CHS group communications manager Julie Phillips said: “CHS is the premier meetings, incentive, conference and events (MICE) shows outside of London and its reputation, and indeed, numbers have grown YoY to become one of the best events, venue and hospitality showcases in the industry calendar for event professionals.”

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Networking highlight valued by millennials, but do not expect them to go it alone

A survey of meeting and event planners carried out by The Meetings Show has found that millennials value networking more highly than any other generation, but are reluctant to attend events on their own.

Overall, 59% of participants in the survey regarded networking events as an important part of their job, but this figure rose to 85% among 18-30-year-olds, who cited making new contacts (80%) and raising their profile in the industry (71%) as the key reasons for attending.

While the younger generation clearly see the value in networking, the majority – 85% – were averse to attending on their own, preferring to go with a colleague or group of colleagues.

More experienced event planners were happier to go it alone, with over a third (36.4%) of 31-45-year-olds preferring to attend by themselves.

Motivations for attending differed among the older generations too, with generating new business leads and meeting with existing industry contacts and friends being cited as key drivers by more than 50% of respondents over 30.

The survey also looked at the logistics which make the ‘perfect’ networking event and found that midweek events were most popular, with 69% preferring events held on Wednesdays, while more than half (52.2%) said they would be willing to travel no more than an hour to attend an event.

When it comes to the format of events, paired or group activities was the most popular option, chosen by 53% of respondents, although for the 31-45 age group appointment-based networking was preferred, while for planners aged 46 and over, seat rotation at a dinner was chosen by 70%.

David Chapple, group event director of The Meetings Show, said: “Networking is one of the core pillars of The Meetings Show, and so we are always reviewing the way we facilitate networking to make sure it’s of the most benefit to our exhibitors and visitors. The findings of the survey have reinforced just how important it is, especially for younger event professionals looking to grow their networks and raise their profile within the industry.

“Walking into a room full of people you don’t know can be daunting, which is why this year we have introduced a new initiative specifically aimed at helping junior event planners. If they have a senior colleague who is attending the show as a hosted buyer, then on the second day of the show the junior colleague will be able to join them for all of their appointments, as well as having access to the hosted buyer lounge, for a less intimidating introduction to the industry.

“With networking at The Meetings Show being provided in a number of different formats, all either on the show floor or within easy reach of Olympia, we hope that all of our attendees will benefit from the opportunity to come together at the show.”

The Meetings Show takes place on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 June at Olympia London. To register, visit www.themeetingsshow.com/register.

Watch and share the official 2019 Show Preview video here – https://youtu.be/vC-VkAP9Qgk.

Taking place on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 June 2019, The Meetings Show is the premier event for the UK inbound and outbound meetings industry, organised by Centaur Live (a division of Centaur Media Plc). Organised by meeting professionals for meeting professionals, it is focused around a large exhibition, networking opportunities and professional education. The hosted buyer programme – the largest in the UK – attracts buyers from the corporate, association, agency and public sectors. The show features destinations from over 50 countries across 6 continents, venues, hotels and key providers of meetings products and services.

The Show includes:

  • The Exhibition: Featuring destinations, venues, hotels and suppliers, the exhibition sits at the heart of The Meetings Show.  
  • Education Programme: Planned by education experts from across the industry, the conference sessions work in harmony with the exhibition and more than 10,000 meetings taking place on the floor.
  • Networking: The Meetings Show offers an unrivalled networking opportunity for event venues, event buyers and suppliers.  For those looking to see more before and after the show, there will also be fam trips visiting key destinations around the UK and internationally.

The Meetings Show has an Advisory Board that meets several times a year both in person and virtually, bringing together their wealth of experience, ideas and strategic understanding of the meetings industry.

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PPHE Hotel Group unveils the premium boutique hotel Holmes Hotel London

PPHE Hotel Group (“PPHE” or the “Group”), an international hospitality real estate group which owns and develops hotels and resorts, operates the Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts brand in EMEA and owns the art’otel brand, has announced the opening of its debut premium boutique hotel product, Holmes Hotel London.

Late spring 2019 sees the official opening of the Group’s first premium boutique hotel, Holmes Hotel London. Formerly Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes London, the repositioned hotel situated on Chiltern Street Marylebone, has seen a multi-million-pound refurbishment of the original site which includes all guest rooms and public areas and expresses a new luxurious identity synonymous with an up-market boutique aesthetic.

Reacting to the ever-evolving market trends, the new hotel will offer the required flexibility to facilitate guest’s on and offsite demands and provide a personalised, service for all guests in one of London’s most sought-after neighborhood, Marylebone Village.

The 5,499m² property comprises of four classic Georgian buildings housed over four floors. Holmes Hotel will encapsulate a new identity as a premium boutique hotel with a renewed sense of heritage, immersive playfulness and approachability – a stylish home away from home for the contemporary traveller looking for a unique stay.

The main entrance of the hotel has been moved from Baker Street to Chiltern Street, allowing guests easier access to Marylebone’s stylish boutiques, galleries and eateries, Holmes Hotel London’s interiors and ambience have been designed to reflect the chic, personality driven Marylebone Village and to encompass the luxurious feel of the local area.

Elegant, modern facilities will include 118 sophisticated guest rooms, three meeting spaces, a gym and an all-day dining destination, Kitchen at Holmes, which offers a seasonally inspired menu in celebration of Londoners and the sensational cultural melting pot of the city.

With an expert eye for contemporary design, the award-winning Digital Space created the vision and interior design for the modern, classic hotel whilst award-winning European design agency Zopsigog continued the story-telling through subtle flavoured intriguing touch points adding hidden depth to the mystery that runs throughout the historic and modern Sherlock Holmes culture.

Boris Ivesha, President & Chief Executive Officer, PPHE Hotel Group added, “We are excited to open the doors of our first major repositioning project in 2019, the Marylebone located Holmes Hotel London. We look forward to welcoming our local neighbours and international guests this spring to showcase our new premium boutique hotel which is reflective of the iconic personality and ambience of Marylebone. This opening will be the first
of several repositioning projects to be completed this year, with similarly exciting projects in their final stages in Amsterdam, Utrecht and Croatia.”

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HBAA promotes wellbeing at National Mental Health Awareness Week

HBAA will be hosting a non-profit event, open to the industry on 15 May during National Mental Health Awareness Week (13-19 May) as the latest initiative in the HBAA’s mental health campaign.

This is a commitment not only to raise awareness of the huge scale of mental health issues in the hospitality and events industry but also to enable members and non-members to help themselves in their wellbeing, take action to prevent problems and address them ahead of when they occur.

The event at the Holiday Inn London, Kensington Forum, starting at 1.15pm, will feature an inspiring keynote speaker, Vikie Shanks, and experts providing advice on many aspects of wellbeing and mental health.

Open to all hospitality and event industry professionals, including non HBAA members, it will raise money to train even more HBAA members to become Mental Health First Aiders.

Key note speaker Vikie Shanks, sponsored by Wyboston Lakes, will deliver a presentation based on her own inspirational life story. Left to raise seven special needs children alone after her husband tragically committed suicide, Vikie will document her own journey to ‘normality’ as she tirelessly campaigns for greater awareness of autism, mental health and suicidality.

Recognised experts will provide advice on wellness in events, nutrition, breathing support and tips on how to get a better night’s sleep. The Samaritans will be discussing their great work and attendees are encouraged to come in activewear to participate in a spinathon. A health MOT provided by Nuffield Health, the largest non-profit provider in the UK, will also be providing a free goodie bag containing NEOM organic products, water bottles and other wellbeing products. 

Raffle prizes, including spa breaks, will be available to win on the day. 

Spaces for the event are limited to 60 and to help maximise funding for more HBAA Mental Health First Aider training places, donations in lieu of attendance can be made by visiting the justgiving page. 

This latest initiative forms part of HBAA’s comprehensive campaign which began in February, when the association’s Executive Committee and board completed training as Mental Health First Aiders.

To help tackle this growing problem, HBAA has created two open courses to enable both members and non-members to train their staff to become qualified Mental Health First Aiders. The first two-day course will take place on 2 & 3 May at the Macdonald Windsor Hotel and the second will be at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham on 20 & 21 June.

Full details of the event and how to book are available here.

Leigh Cowlishaw, HBAA past Chair and Board member who is leading the HBAA Mental Health Awareness campaign says; “From a recent survey; one in three people in the hospitality and events industry will experience a mental health issue and the sector is ranked in the top three sectors for stress and mental health problems. This latest initiative is one of several being implemented by the HBAA, and is designed to empower all those working in hospitality and events by providing tools and guidance to support them in their professional and personal lives.

“We want everyone to understand that ‘It’s OK Not To Be OK’, and that there is plenty of support available to them. This support and self-care is to enable you to look after your wellbeing maintenance and not just to be activated when you need to take time off sick, or visiting the doctors – it should be used as part of your daily routine to look out for yourself and others around you.” 

An interview with Leigh Cowlishaw about this topic and event can be viewed at vimeo.com

For more information, please visit www.hbaa.org.uk

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NH Hotel Group presents Mood Room™ in Germany, its room of the future

Guests will now be able to customise their hotel room using an only a tablet to control lighting, music, curtains and temperature.

After the launch of the Mood Room™ proposition at the NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding in Spain, Germany takes over and introduces these new rooms at the NH Collection Berlin Mitte hotel.
Digitalization and customer experience join forces in this innovative project which connects the rooms with the emotions and specific needs of each guest in order to exceed their expectations.

NH Hotel Group, Signify and CYBEROBICS presented Mood Room™, the “room of the future”, at NH Collection Berlin Mitte. This concept has been designed around three parameters: personalizing guests’ experience, connected technology and sustainability. Guests can regulate the lighting, music and temperature from a tablet, to adapt the mood to their own tastes. Specifically, the client could choose between six main pre-set modes and 19 moods to help guests sleep, work and relax better, and enjoy a unique technological experience.

Maarten Markus, Managing Director Northern Europe NH Hotel Group, said “Digitalization is already an intrinsic part of everyday life in many areas. Hotels must not be left behind; we need to be even more determined to open the way to change, testing out new services and solutions and offering them to our customers. With the introduction of Mood Room™ in our offer, our Northern Europe business unit now has a magnificent new easy-to-operate product, making a hotel stay an even more pleasant experience”.

For Signify, too, this partnership is an excellent example of how interconnection is generating entirely new models in the hotel industry: “The four Mood Room™ at the NH Collection Berlin Mitte are like a window into the future”, says Karsten Vierke, PR Manager of Signify in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Smart lighting and interconnection are becoming the order of the day at home and at work. Naturally, these changes should not suddenly stop at the hotel door. For me, a really satisfactory hotel stay involves a combination of good service, atmosphere and convenience. By working with our partners in climate control, lighting, music and fitness, we’re showing how smart technology and automation can create a whole new hotel experience”, adds Vierke.

One of the distinctive features of the Mood Room™ at the NH Collection Berlin Mitte are the sports complements provided by fitness and lifestyle brand, CYBEROBICS. By selecting the “Set the Tone” mood, guests can interface with CYBEROBICS’s workout exercises, choosing between four different fitness videos: Yoga Power, Six Pack Attack, Quick Fit or Just Relax. Again, the system chooses the right type of lighting and mood for the occasion.

For Oliver Schulokat, CEO of CYBEROBICS, the Mood Room™ ties in perfectly with the new move towards ‘on-demand fitness’: “Digitalization will have wide-ranging consequences for the way people train in the future to improve their physical fitness. Our goal is to promote with CYBEROBICS that evolution, making fitness available to even more people and in this way turning it into a natural part of their everyday lives. That’s why CYBEROBICS covers all areas of life—at home, at work and in the hotel when we’re away. We see the NH Hotel Group as a generator of innovation in the hotel industry, using digitalization to take its guest experience to a whole new dimension. At this point we are seeing many points of contact with CYBEROBICS’s vision. We’re therefore very happy to be launching this partnership”.

Pilot project which began in Madrid is now being extended to Germany

The Mood Room™ project, presented for the first time at the NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding hotel, has taken sustainability, connectivity and customer experience into account as key factors. Thanks to Philips RoomFlex, the Mood Room™ has become a totally individualised stay experience. Philips RoomFlex is a fully programmable system for controlling lighting in the hotel rooms, which can be easily integrated into the sensor technology and other systems, such as heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, visual protection and booking software.

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Top Tips to boost meeting attendance

Meetings and conferences are vital to effective communication and a good experience is fundamental to your plans to connect both internally with your colleagues and externally with clients.

Any event that you hold will be a demonstration of how efficient your company is, and engagement is vital to driving attendance. We all know that events are not easy to plan or manage but in the competitive and time-poor environment that we work in it is essential to impress the participants.

So how do you achieve the desired outcome from your conference or meeting? Here are a few tips to help …

Research

If you’ve held this event before, make sure that you incorporate the feedback, both good and bad. That’s not only from attendees, but also the speakers and staff. They will all give you advice to improve the next. Do a SWOT analysis and check that the information you are providing is relevant and new so that attendees learn something that’s made it worthwhile leaving their desks.

Understand the audience

Who are you talking to? What have they achieved, what problems are they having and what do they want to get out of this event? What do they like and dislike?

This relates to the previous point about doing your homework, but you will also use the information to tailor the experience.

Get the audience involved

This isn’t easy when planning an event for a group of people. You can get the attendees involved before, during and afterwards by using tools such as surveys and polls. This is can valuable source of topic suggestions and will help with the agenda. At the event, ask a question to the audience and then discuss the answers to judge the feeling in the room.

Ask for help

Make the experience as easy as possible for the speakers who have agreed to help by giving their time and sharing their insights. Any pre-event surveys can highlight trends or subjects that they will cover in their presentations, which also makes sure that the audience gets the answers they want.
It might we worth finding an external expert on a particular topic who can add value. Or you might have someone who is a thought-leader within your organisation, who regularly publishes blogs, is active on social media and is highly regarded as a specialist in their field.

Planning

Preparation is essential, so share as much as you can with your team and also with the attendees beforehand. If anything changes then make sure that everyone knows immediately and has clear instructions about how to proceed. Onsite you can use the latest technology to deliver real-time notifications and dynamic alerts.

Keep everyone engaged

49% of people multitask by doing unrelated work during meetings and events. Make sure you keep everyone focused by delivering excellent content in an exciting way that really benefits the attendee. You want them to walk away knowing it was worth their while leaving the office to attend your event.

Feedback

Every meeting planner wants to collect insightful feedback so make sure attendees can deliver it in an easy, convenient way. The technology tools available now can provide you with quick and easy surveys, delivered electronically and these will allow attendees time to share their opinions, save you time and help plan the next event.

Follow up after the event and respond to contributors so everyone knows that their attendance was worthwhile and keep the engagement going afterwards. If you can create a sense of community then that will take you forwards to the next event.

We all know that meetings, conferences and events are a great contributor to successful communication, but they’re not easy to plan or manage. Hopefully, you can use these tips to improve engagement and build long-lasting relationships with attendees.

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New Park Plaza brand identity unveiled

Radisson Hotel Group (‘RHG’) and PPHE Hotel Group (‘PPHE’), which is RHG’s exclusive partner for its wholly owned Park Plaza brand in Europe, Middle East & Africa, has unveiled the first phase of the rollout of a new Park Plaza brand identity.

Following a significant investment programme that has seen the Park Plaza portfolio bolstered by four new openings since 2015, the extensive repositioning of two hotels in 2018 and several additional repositioning programmes at final stages, PPHE has truly elevated the Park Plaza portfolio to be a stylish hospitality product, with reimagined spaces and critically acclaimed destination restaurants and bars. Now firmly positioned as an upper upscale international brand, the new brand identity is fully aligned with the contemporary and high-quality product.

The brand identity redesign exudes style and sophistication, reflecting the brand’s deep understanding of its guests and the locale in which each property inhabits. Underpinned by three key pillars – authentic service, contemporary spirit and local hotspots – the update cements its commitment to giving each guest a real and genuine experience through elegantly appointed and distinctively designed hotels with vibrant restaurants and bars that exude a buzzing social atmosphere. The new brand identity, which is now live across all digital platforms including the website and social media channels, is supported by a new logo inspired by the authentic and sophisticated spaces embodied by properties within the Park Plaza portfolio.

RHG and PPHE continue to develop the brand’s hallmarks, with recently introduced guest experience initiatives such as the introduction of a heightened sleep experience through luxury bedding and linen, a dedicated scent programme, the creation of social destinations and hotspots where the local community and guests mix in lively environments with a compelling entertainment offering. Additional features of the brand include its progressive approach to design, lighting and ambiance.

Park Plaza is one of the largest international upper upscale brands within central London, with 3,200 rooms in operation and some of the capital’s largest meeting and event facilities. In addition, the brand is represented in capital cities and regional centres such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Bangkok, Beijing, Nuremberg, Cardiff, Leeds and Nottingham – as well as various resort destinations in Croatia.

Federico J. Gonzalez Tejera, President & CEO of Radisson Hospitality AB and Chairman of Radisson Hotel Group Global Steering Committee, added: “We are very proud to be unveiling the new Park Plaza brand repositioning and logo as part of the comprehensive restructure of our brand architecture – a process we began last year with the launch of Radisson Hotel Group. Park Plaza is a strong and recognised name within the London market especially and its new brand position aligns with our ambition to deliver memorable moments to our guests, owners, investors and talent – while offering a clear and attractive proposition within our overall brand portfolio. This brand repositioning will help us add value and continue being the best partner to our stakeholders.”

Boris Ivesha, President & Chief Executive Officer at PPHE Hotel Group, commented: “Following the full transformation and repositioning of our portfolio in recent years, we are excited to unveil an enhanced brand identity for Park Plaza that further enables us to create unique experiences for guests and offer asset value to our investors. The new visual identity and logo complement the brand’s growth and represents the contemporary and sophisticated properties that are part of the estate.

“We are currently finalising plans on the roll-out process for the brand relaunch across all properties in Europe with Radisson Hotel Group.’’

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Mandarin Oriental, London fully opens after restoration

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London has re-opened in its entirety, having completed the most extensive restoration in its 117-year history. Following the re-opening of the public spaces in December 2018, the hotel now unveils all new guest rooms and suites, including two newly created expansive penthouse suites.

“Mandarin Oriental is enormously proud of the heritage of this historic hotel. The scope and intricate detail of this momentous renovation is designed to ensure this iconic London establishment is recognised as one of the finest hotels in the world. We look forward to welcoming our guests with kind and intuitive service that is truly British but reflective of our Oriental heritage,” said Amanda Hyndman, General Manager and Area Vice President of Operations.

Guestrooms and Suites
Internationally renowned designer, Joyce Wang, has overseen the redesign of all guest rooms and suites, along with the creation of the hotel’s new Penthouses, taking inspiration from the peaceful parkside location, as well as the glamour of the early 20th century’s Golden Age of travel. All 181 guest rooms and suites are now more luxurious and comfortable than ever before, with art deco-inspired features including carefully curated artworks and custom-designed furniture.

Each of the hotel’s 40 suites range in size from the smallest, at 47 square metres, located within the turrets of the hotel, to the largest, at 444 square metres, which comprises the new three-bedroom Mandarin Oriental Penthouse with private terraces. Consisting of two penthouse suites, the Mandarin Penthouse and the Oriental Penthouse can be interconnected to create one of London’s largest suites with three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a private dining room, two kitchens, and expansive views of Hyde Park and the London skyline.

In every suite, guests will find a host of special additions ranging from libraries curated by the well-known historic London bookseller, Heywood Hill, to yoga mats for private practice. All accommodation comes equipped with GHD hair straighteners, Nespresso coffee makers, his and her Miller Harris bathroom amenities and Jo Hansford hair products.

The Spa
New York designer Adam D. Tihany, has overseen the redesign of the next-generation Spa at Mandarin Oriental, London. In keeping with the fresh new look, the extensive spa menu has also been enhanced to include exclusive partnerships with some of the most sought-after health and wellness experts in the world. The new spa features 13 individual treatments rooms, an Oriental Suite with two massage beds and a Rasul water temple, a room designed for traditional ASANTE Chinese Medicine consultations and treatments and a Bastien Gonzalez Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio – the first of its kind in the UK.

The Restaurants and Bar
Adam D. Tihany has also overseen a light refurbishment of Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Bar Boulud, London and Mandarin Bar. The Rosebery, known as the Bennett Tearoom in the 1920s, will offer a special 1920s Afternoon Tea, while Mandarin Bar has created a series of special cocktails named after celebrated guests and iconic events that took place within the hotel.

Event Spaces
Having hosted royal parties and glamorous events since the 1900s, the hotel’s Ballroom and Loggia have also been lovingly restored to include 24-carat gilding of many original features. Both venues enjoy access from the park via the private Royal entrance. The renovation also includes a beautiful hand-painted Butterfly Terrace by artist Leah Wood, along with two new versatile meeting spaces, Asquith and Balfour, for private meetings and social soirees.

Public Areas
The first phase of the renovation was unveiled in September 2017. Joyce Wang was commissioned to transform the Lobby Lounge and Reception area, which now blend seamlessly with The Rosebery’s nature inspired décor. Contemporary materials, including acrylic, are juxtaposed with more traditional finishes such as blond burl wood. Centre piece commissioned glass chandeliers enhance the dramatic entrance. The reception artwork by Fredrikson Stallard, is an abstraction of the textured and layered bark of the Plane Tree – the signature tree of Hyde Park.

Artwork
The hotel has commissioned VISTO Images to compile an outstanding art portfolio throughout the hotel. Each of the hotel’s new floor landings showcase a striking photograph by Mary McCartney, who is the official photographer of the Group’s international advertising campaign, while the corridors are home to pieces inspired by the nature of Hyde Park and English technological innovations featured in the 1851 Great Exhibition. Other eclectic art pieces can be found throughout the hotel’s public areas.

The hotel’s illustrious 117-year history
If walls could talk this iconic hotel would have many stories to tell. The building was commissioned in the late 1880’s however construction was initially delayed due to fears that its height would cast a shadow over the Serpentine. It finally opened in 1889 as an exclusive block of apartments for affluent bachelors, before opening as a hotel, with its own private Royal Entrance, in 1902. Since then, many honoured guests have passed through the hotel, and for several years after the Second World War it was the headquarters of the SAS. Glamorous parties and dance classes by the venerable Madame Vacani – who taught HM Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret to dance – have been held in the ballroom. Sir Winston Churchill lived in the hotel for a while and was known to offer room service waiters two cigars in return for the delivery of an early breakfast. Evelyn Waugh was also a regular guest, and characterised some of his fellow guests after his many stays. Many of these momentous past events can be viewed in more detail in the newly created Historical Journey Exhibition on permanent display in the hotel from Monday 15 April 2019.

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ibis Styles rolls out new tube-chic design at Gloucester Road hotel

Guests checking into ibis Styles Gloucester Road can now take a trip on the tube in their pyjamas, as ibis Styles unveils its new hotel design.

The 84-bedroom Victorian hotel has had a stylish makeover from the ground up, breaking the mould of a budget stay. Minimalist furnishings have been paired with luxe fabrics and natural wood finishings to create a welcoming and unforgettable design.

Re-imagining the lobby space, the ground floor is now a relaxed and airy open-plan hangout space where guests can kick-back after a day of meetings or exploring and settle in with a good book or enjoy the hotel’s free unlimited super-fast Wi-Fi.

Staff will offer a new level of hospitality, personality and service as they check guests in via a mobile phone, freeing them up to talk more about their stay, their needs and enjoy their time in the hotel. ibis Styles Gloucester Road is a stone’s throw away from Gloucester Road tube station in South Kensington, and counts the Victoria & Albert Museum, Science & Natural History Museum and the Royal Albert Hall as neighbours.

Whether a Londoner or visiting the city, guests will get a kick out of the witty ways tiny tube logos and station names have been used down to the finest details. They’ll find pillows with travelcard tickets printed on them and even be reminded to ‘Mind the Gap’ on the carpet as they step out of bed in the morning.

What’s more, with its own ‘Platform 9 ¾’ and coloured District and Piccadilly lines running through corridors, the property’s fresh interior draws on playful cues from London’s world-famous underground. Guest bathrooms have also been re-imagined as ‘Water Loos’ – a nod to one of the city’s busiest stations.

Guests are guaranteed a good night’s sleep on a comfy Sweet Bed™ and a great start to the day with a hearty all-you-can-eat continental breakfast. The hotel also offers specially designed family rooms and has its friendly team on hand to make stays for all ages memorable.

Cristina Cavaco, General Manager for the hotel commented: “Thousands of people travel on the tube every-day, and every line and station has a different character that Londoners know and love. We’ve brought this to life for guests in such fun and surprising ways so they will enjoy a unique stay every time.”