Blog Archives - Page 34 of 37

17th January 201917th January 2019

Hospitality bucks December consumer spending trend

Spend dropped 1.0% overall, yet hotels, restaurants & bars boosted by 7.6% increase.

Visa’s UK Consumer Spending Index, compiled by IHS Markit, showed that overall expenditure continued to decline at the end of 2018. The -1.0% year-on-year reduction seen in December was the fastest seen since April, having accelerated from a -0.7% decline in November.

Looking over 2018 as a whole, expenditure has fallen in eight months of the year, underscoring a relatively weak overall picture of household spending. Lower expenditure was largely driven by a disappointing performance by the High Street, as Face-to-Face spending fell -1.6% on an annual basis in December.

This confidence in the currently resilient hospitality sector confirms previous reports of strong spending.

Speaking specifically about the sector’s spending increase from consumers, Adolfo Laurenti, European Principal Economist, Visa, commented:

“An acceleration in spending at hotels, restaurants and bars (+7.6% year-on-year) suggests that some categories of discretionary spending are holding up better than the market as a whole. And the modest pickup in ecommerce point to the resilience of digital channels of distribution, a favorable long-term trend that recent woes have not derailed.”

16th January 201916th January 2019

Confex partners with Meeting Needs charity

International Confex has confirmed it will be partnering with Meeting Needs in 2019. The event industry charity was founded by leading figures in the meetings and events industry.

Meeting Needs aspires to raise funds for charitable causes relevant to the events industry.

“Meeting Needs is a fantastic charity supporting some extremely worthy causes and it is always great to see the event industry unite, leaving aside all thoughts of competition, to achieve great things.” Liz Agostini, event director of International Confex, owned by Mash Media Group.

The Meeting Needs activation will be based on the incentivised walkway at International Confex where those who wish to support will be required to gather stamps on their Confex ‘passport’.

International Confex has supported Meeting Needs in the past with the pedometer challenge where a donation was made to the charity for every visitor who walked more than 5,000 steps.

International Confex takes place at Olympia London, 26-27 February. Visit www.international-confex.com to register.

15th January 201915th January 2019

2.4% increase for UK Hotels in November

UK hotels saw an increase in both room occupancy and average room rates in November.

Occupancy grew by 0.6 per cent to 79.1 per cent, while there was a 2.4 per cent increase in room rate to £120.03 for the month, according to the latest data tracking full-service hotels from HotStats.

Hotels in the UK have fought back to profitability following a 4.9 per cent year-on-year decline recorded in Q1 2018. The growth in November was led by increases across all revenue centres, including rooms (3.1 per cent), food and beverage (3 per cent) and conference and banqueting (3.2 per cent).

“Whilst other other investment sectors, particularly retail, appeared to wobble ahead of the Christmas break and the unknowns of 2019, the UK hotel market is remaining resilient. The stronger performance in the second half of 2018 means hotel owners and operators in the UK are all set for another year of profit growth following the 5.1 per cent increase in 2017.”
Michael Grove, director of intelligence and customer solutions, EMEA, HotStats

In line with growth across the UK, properties in the challenging Aberdeen market recorded a slight 0.8 per cent increase in profit per room in November.

Hotels in the city saw a 2.8 per cent increase in room occupancy, which grew to 72.5 per cent, as volume in the city maintains its recovery. This was accompanied by a 7.3 per cent drop in room rates to £59.04.

The increase in volume in November helped to drive ancillary revenues, with a 48.7 per cent increase in conference and banqueting.

“It has been a very tough few years of trading for hotels in Aberdeen due to the fall out of demand, as well as increases in supply, illustrated by the poor rate performance this month, which was ahead of only August, However, the fact that hoteliers have managed to generate a profit increase from a fairly substantial RevPAR decline is highly commendable.”

In contrast, properties at the other end of the UK in Bournemouth saw an 8.1 per cent increase in achieved average room rate to £79.72.

14th January 2019

Accor Hotels tell us about their brands

AccorHotels has 35 brands that range from luxury to economy, offering a ‘full suite’ of choice when it comes to hospitality and conference and events venues offering a wide selection of properties to accommodate customers of all budgets.

Within the portfolio there are brands that will meet the needs of big budget events, such as Raffles and Sofitel, to the more modest budget, with ibis allowing for a vibrant and carefree environment to host functions.

Raffles

True luxury is not just about what you do, it’s about how you feel
Guests staying at any of the 12 Raffles properties worldwide will experience illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting guests with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Each Raffles property, be it Paris, Istanbul, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where delegates arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family.

Sofitel – Life is Magnifique

Sofitel is an ambassador of modern French style, culture and art-de-vivre around the world. Established in 1964, Sofitel is the first international luxury hotel brand to originate from France with over 120 remarkable hotels in the world’s most sought after destinations. Sofitel exudes a refined and understated sense of modern luxury, always blending a touch of French decadence with the very best of the locale. The Sofitel collection includes notable hotels as Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg, Sofitel London St James, Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema, Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort.

Fairmont

Turning moments into memories for our guests
Fairmont’s landmark hotels with unrivalled presence, authentic experiences and unforgettable moments have attracted visitors to its destinations since 1907. The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai are but a few of these iconic luxury hotels, forever linked to the special places where they reside. Famous for its engaging service, grand public spaces, locally inspired cuisine and celebrated bars and lounges, Fairmont promises a special brand of thoughtful luxury that will be remembered long after any visit. With a worldwide portfolio of more than 75 hotels, Fairmont also takes great pride in its deep community roots and leadership in sustainability.

Pullman – Our World is Your Playground

Pullman delivers an experience that is upscale, upbeat and perfectly in tempo with today’s global trends. Against the backdrop of everyday fast paced life, Pullman aims to offer the very best hospitality experience to guests, whether they are leisure or corporate travelers, enabling them to seamlessly explore the locale. Pullman is where the new nomads find inspiration and make connections. Retaining the values of exploration, comfort and dependability that drove it to become a pioneering travel brand over 150 years ago, Pullman today features more than 120 worldwide properties including Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel, Pullman Park Lane Hong Kong, Pullman Shanghai South, Pullman London St Pancras and Pullman Sao Paulo Vila Olimpia.

Novotel – Modern easy living, full service

Providing a multi-service offer for both business and leisure guests Novotel boasts of spacious, modular rooms, 24/7 catering offers with balanced meals, meeting rooms, attentive and proactive staff, kid areas, a multi-purpose lobby and fitness centers. With over 500 hotels and resorts in 59 countries, Novotel properties are ideally located in the heart of major international cities, business districts and tourist destinations.

Mercure – In harmony with people and places

Mercure is the only midscale hotel brand that combines the strength of an international network with a strong quality commitment and the warm experience of hotels inspired by their local community. Mercure hotels are managed by enthusiastic hoteliers and welcome business and leisure travellers across the world. Present in 63 countries, Mercure has over 790 properties located in city centers such as Mercure London Bridge. Ideal for corporate travellers in London, this property is also the perfect venue for meetings and events offering four flexible meeting rooms for up to 60 people with AV equipment and a dedicated host.

ibis – Well-being at the best price

ibis innovates constantly to offer its guests modernity, comfort and availability. It created the revolutionary bedding concept Sweet BedTM by ibis; welcoming, designer common areas and the modern food and beverage offer, ibis kitchen. It also cultivates the spirit of service that drives each of its employees. Ibis is recognised across the world for its quality, reliability and commitment to the environment. Created in 1974, ibis is now the European leader in economy hotels and the fourth hotel chain in its category worldwide with over 1,150 hotels and 147,000 rooms in 67 countries.

9th January 20198th January 2019

It’s been a year of accolades for NH Hotel Group

With 2018 at an end, NH Hotels thought January is a great time to reflect on everything that they’ve experienced during the year. Extending their presence over 28 countries, they’ve celebrated 11 new hotel openings, the launch of innovative services like FASTPASS, and a greater presence of nhow at an international level with one new hotel and five more coming soon.

Not only that, they’ve been busy collecting awards along the way…

Best Hotel Chain for Business Travellers – Business Traveller
Best location for business meetings and events and Best hotel business for central southern Italy – IMA Award
Best hotel for automotive events and Best hotel for technology equipment – QFactor Award
Best hotel chain for corporate travellers – Business Travel IBTA Awards
Travelranking award for the most recommended hotel chain for business and city stays in Spain and abroad – Agenttravel
Best new hotel in 2017-2018 for NH Collection Eindhoven –
Hotel Forum 2018 Hotelimmobilie des Jahres
Most innovative in tourism – Premio Excelencias Turísticas
Best digital enterprise – European Digital Mindset Awards

8th January 20198th January 2019

HBAA fundraising raises £44,000 for homeless charity – Beyond Food

HBAA members have raised a total of £44,000 for homeless charity Beyond Food in 2017 and 2018.

The money was generated at a variety of events and activities including the association’s annual dinners, annual forum, members meetings and Come Dine with Me.

The charity, founded by restaurateur Simon Boyle, supports the homeless by helping them to learn catering industry skills so that they develop careers in the hospitality sector.

“Our members have clearly been inspired by this wonderful cause and Simon Boyle’s campaign to help people in need Beyond food in this way. The stories of the people that Beyond Food has helped are heart-warming.”
Louise Goalen, chair of the HBAA in 2017 and 2018

Beyond Food founder Simon Boyle is a chef, author and social entrepreneur whose varied career has seen him on Dragon’s Den and as culinary ambassador for Unilever. Through Beyond Food he uses food as a catalyst for social change. Beyond Food’s home and social enterprise restaurant, Brigade is on Tooley Street in London.

In 2017, Boyle became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, while Beyond Food and Brigade won the Education, Training & Jobs award from Social Enterprise UK.

4th January 201919th December 2018

Security and Risk – Six top tips to select a venue

With the security related events of London and Manchester at the forefront of everyone’s minds, keeping event attendees as safe as possible has become another topic that corporate event professionals need to be expert in. There are also natural hazards, such as the earthquake in Mexico, fires in California and floods. Trinity Event Solutions holds regular Meetings Voice Summits for clients and potential clients to network and learn, and a recent event focused on these issues.

If your event attracts attention, because of the topic, political situation, has VIPs or is high-profile, such as an awards event, then these can be more vulnerable.

Venue selection can have a considerable impact on the security of an event, so here are six tips to consider:

Consider the venue’s location – is it set back from the road or does it have a private entrance? Venues that are set back will be harder to attack in a vehicle, and less likely to suffer from criminal surveillance too.
Check that the venue has CCTV on all entrance points so that they can monitor everyone who enters or leaves the venue. If they have CCTV then this is a great indication of a well designed security plan.
Does the venue have the ability to close off access to the building? Also is there an alternate route out of the building should one road be cordoned off?
Ask the venue about safe havens and evacuation. Do they have enough capacity for everyone attending and are these areas spread around the property?
Prepare your own simple security and emergency plan. Brief key staff and give them a printed copy. Don’t rely on an electronic copy, as mobile networks could be taken down. Discuss your plan with the venue and ask to see their security and emergency plan. They should be happy to share their plans with you.
Make sure you have the contact details and location of the nearest police stations, hospitals and if you’re abroad, the British Embassy.

What you can do in advance

When you are at the initial stage of venue selection, ask the venue:

What are their emergency procedures
How do they keep non attendees out of your area
What is their record of criminal activity
What is their record of cyber attacks

For more information about organising your events and selecting the appropriate venue, call 01780 484051 or email enquiries@edgevenues.com

2nd January 20192nd January 2019

The challenges of today’s menu planning

How to handle delegates with special dietary requirements for menu planning

by Katharine Jordan, Marketing Director, Trinity Event Solutions

We are all experiencing more special dietary requests from attendees at our events, so I’ve taken a look at some ideas of how to handle them to create that perfect menu choice.

There are increasing numbers of people who have special dietary needs such as specific food allergies or intolerances or a health condition. An allergy can be caused by the immune system reacting to an ingredient and an intolerance is a reaction to the food or certain chemicals. It’s thought that around 20% of the UK population is living with a food allergy and 600,000 (1 in 100) with coeliac disease. There isn’t a cure for a food allergy or intolerance so the only way to manage the condition is not to eat the food. The Food Standards Agency has said that more adults are having allergic reactions to food because of the peer pressure to try different cuisine, take risks with foods they are unsure about, and not admit to known allergies due to embarrassment.

Many religions and cultures follow food customs and laws. Meat is often avoided and these preferences can often be catered for with good vegetarian or vegan options.

More people a choosing a special diet for health and environmental reasons. Animal welfare has always been a concern and we are all used to vegetarian menu options. In 2018, 168,542 people signed up to Veganuary and it is estimated that there are more than 3.5 vegans in the UK. For ‘clean-eating’ reasons people are cutting food groups from their diet and this is a growing trend.

Menu innovation

The Wellcome Collection’s conference centre has announced that it is trialling an innovative new allergen system to offer inclusive dining for all. Delegates will be able to view allergen guides on the digital screen and upload menus to their phone via a QR code. They can then browse menu items and discover more about each dish, including the all-important allergy information without having to ask. This will ensure that the food they choose meets their dietary requirements.

For meetings and event planners, special dietary requirements present significant challenges when planning a menu. So, here’s our checklist of four things to consider when discussing food choices with hotels and venues.

Don’t cause kitchen chaos

You may think that a varied menu for 600 guests will avoid some of the possible dietary issues, but you also need to consider what impact it could have on the kitchen. If guests see a dish being carried to a nearby table of something they’d prefer, it’s amazing how quickly they remember a forgotten meat allergy, just so they can switch to their favourite sea bass. At a hotel or venue, the catering staff have to treat everyone the same so if somebody says they’ll be ill if they eat a certain dish, that must be believed and dealt with accordingly.

Leave it to the experts

The advice from Executive Chefs is to select the best possible menu for the majority of your guests and don’t worry about the CEO who doesn’t like mushrooms or is gluten free. An experienced catering team will handle individual exceptions professionally, leaving you to focus on creating the right impression with exciting food for the majority.

Give the responsibility to the guests

Ensure that you’ve done everything within your power to communicate to guests that, should they have a food allergy, they can discuss it in private with a senior member of the catering team or make staff aware with the use of a table card. Ideally, you want to focus on medical requirements rather than food preferences and be aware of the sensitivities of early-stage pregnancies. If you’re planning a buffet, all foods will need to be labelled clearly with the correct dietary information.

A tip from the trade

Most venues prepare for the unknown by catering for an additional 10% of guests who change their mind or reveal food allergies. Check this with your catering team and increase it if necessary. If someone has a serious allergy to an ingredient such as gluten or nuts, their meals will need to be prepared in a completely separate area of the venue or bought in from the outside. It is safer to assume that the kitchen is already contaminated.

20th December 201819th December 2018

Hotels and venues opening in 2019

It’s always exciting to hold your event somewhere new and we’re always looking for something different. So here’s a quick look at some of the hotels and venues that are due to open next year.

In the UK …

Belmond Cadogan on Sloane Street will reopen on 1st February after being closed for four years
The Hard Rock Hotel, formerly the Cumberland at Marble Arch, will have meeting space and 1,000 bedrooms
Battersea Arts Centre is reopening in February after a three-year renovation
The Science Museum will open a purpose-built event space, Illuminate
The Standard London, near St Pancras will have 266 bedrooms
Bankside Hotel, Autograph Collection, a new design-led boutique hotel in London
DoubleTree by Hilton London Kensington is due to open in February will have 230 bedrooms
The Dixon, Tower Bridge, Autograph Collection, a mix of heritage and contemporary character
Manhattan Loft Gardens Design Hotel in Stratford, with 150 bedrooms and a roof garden that overlooks the Olympic Park
The Prince Akatoki, formerly The Arch London in Marylebone, a 5* hotel from a Japanese brand
Hampton by Hilton London Park Royal is due to open at the end of 2019, with 162 bedrooms
Monkey Island Estate Hotel, at Bray in the middle of the Thames will have four meeting rooms
HGI London Heathrow Terminal 2 is due to open in May, with 360 bedrooms
The Langley, Buckinghamshire, a boutique hotel in a former royal hunting ground
Hilton Garden Inn Abingdon Oxford is due to open in February with 146 bedrooms
Courtyard Oxford South, a 4-star hotel with good access to the A34 at Milton
DTbH Birmingham is due to open in September with 171 bedrooms
Delta Hotel in Cheltenham opening in June
Hampton by Hilton Stockton on Tees will open in February, with 128 bedrooms
Hampton by Hilton Leeds City Centre is due to open in July, with 192 bedrooms
Doubletree by Hilton Harrogate – Majestic opening in October, with 170 bedrooms
Moxy Edinburgh Airport opening in January
The Fife Arms, a former coaching inn in the Scottish Higlands at Braemar
Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh Airport with 240 bedrooms, opening in January
Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre is due to open in June, with 200 bedrooms

And a bit further afield …

France

Chateau du Grand-Luce, a 20-bedroom hotel in the Loire Valley
The Hôtel du Palais, Biarritz, a Hyatt hotel due to open in the 2nd half of 2019

Norway – Oslo

Amerikalinjen will have a winter garden, open fire and jazz bar

Spain – Madrid

The Mandarin Oriental will open at the end of 2019, it was previously the Ritz Hotel
Riu Plaza de España is opening in June 2019, with meeting space for 1,500 people and 585 bedrooms
The Kimpton Barcelona is due to open at the end of 2019, near the La Rambla with 156 bedrooms

Italy

Iberostar Fontana di Trevi close to the the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon

Malta – Valetta

Iniala Malta is a contemporary boutique hotel made from four townhouses, with a rooftop restaurant and plunge pool

Madeira

Savoy Palace is a 5* hotel with 325 bedrooms, due to open in the Spring

Portugal

Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel Alvor in the Algarve is due to open in June, with 70 bedrooms

Croatia

Grand Park, Rovinj is a 5* hotel, opening in April

Cyprus

The Radisson Larnaca Beach Resort is due to open in the autumn, with 202 bedrooms

Singapore

Raffles has been undergoing refurbishment for 18 months and will have three new restaurants

Hong Kong

The Rosewood in 43 floors of a skyscraper on Victoria Harbour is due to open in March
K11 Artus will have balconies, which is rare in Hong Kong
St Regis on Hong Kong Island
Soho House due to open in the summer

USA

The Hoxton, Chicago will open in the spring with 175 bedrooms, followed by a hotel in New York
Hilton Washington DC National Mall, will open in February with 11 meeting rooms and 367 bedrooms

This is by no means a complete list of hotels and venues opening next year, but just to give an idea of what’s in the pipeline.

19th December 201818th December 2018

Buyers fear long haul brexit challenges

A Business Travel Show survey has revealed that Brexit is not only the biggest challenge facing buyers next year, it will continue to cause them problems as far ahead as 2022.

For the first time in four years, cost-cutting was knocked off the top spot of the list of forthcoming challenges to be replaced by Brexit, which shot up from fourth place –its home for the last two years. Airbus UK travel manager Geoff Allwright even admitted that Brexit is the one thing that ‘keeps him awake at night’. However, our poll of 134 European buyers showed that 65 per cent of travel managers don’t have a post-Brexit plan in place.

While pricing, the value of sterling, globalisation and technology also make the 2019 top ten, duty of care and traveller risk have dropped out of the chart completely after taking the second slot for the last two years.

In line with the Business Travel Show’s Travel 2022 theme for 2019, buyers were also asked what they expect to be the biggest challenges facing them in three years’ time. Similarly, to the 12-month forecast, Brexit and cost-cutting topped the table. Visas also made an appearance at number seven, mirroring the general concern about the impact that Brexit will have on the free and easy movement of people across borders.

“Whether for or against the UK leaving the Europe Union, the last few months have been particularly frustrating and baffling for both sides leaving everyone possibly even more uncertain about any potential outcomes than they were a year or two ago. Because of that, I think our poll captures the Zeitgeist perfectly and it doesn’t surprise me that –right now –buyers are more concerned about Brexit than cost cutting.”

Business Travel Show group event director David Chapple

Additionally, when asked the follow up question, “What will the biggest change in the way you buy/manage travel in the next 12 months be?” buyers responded as follows, with ‘no change’ firmly at number one.

The Business Travel Show is the leading event in Europe for corporate travel professionals, taking place 20-21 February 2019 at Olympia London. Buyers can register for a free visitor pass here.