The Radisson Blu, Frankfurt is in an ideal location for meetings with direct access to the motorway, 15 minutes to Frankfurt Airport and 10 minutes to city centre, the meeting rooms were extended in 2014 resulting in 16 modern rooms spread over 1700m2 with floor to ceiling windows and state of the art AV equipment. The venue also benefits from a showroom and outside terrace for evening events.
The hotel has 428 soft-refurbished bedrooms in 4 different room styles to suit every guest with stunning views of either the bustling city or nearby Taunus Mountains and each benefit from the fastest WI-FI in the city with 1 GB download speed
The White Hart Welwyn has recently completed a total refurbishment of the hotel. The property, offers a restaurant, one meeting room, and a small number of bedrooms, and can be well suited to smaller intimate meetings. The function room is the former court house of Welwyn, and can seat up to 20 delegates in a boardroom style, or 40 for a reception. The refurbishment was announced in December 2015, along with a change in ownership taking effect in January 2016.
The Village Manchester Bury has recently undergone a multi-million refurbishment of its bedrooms and meeting space, and launches them next week to the public. The refurbishment includes new technology added in the meeting rooms such as “click-share” enabling wireless presentations, as well as variable lighting. The refurbished bedrooms now include new mattresses and 49 inch wall mounted TV’s, and also feature a ‘stripe’ wall. Additionally, UpperDeck rooms now have a 55 inch wall mounted TV’s with Sky and Bluetooth sound bar.
I recently spent the day in London to visit some hotels that are undergoing changes at the moment
Corus Hyde Park
The Corus Hyde Park is located in central London. It’s within walking distance of Lancaster gate and Oxford Street. It’s just minutes away from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express. The Hotel has 389 bedrooms with free WI-FI throughout the Hotel. They’re going through a refurbishment at the moment with the bedrooms. I saw a room ‘before’ and ‘after’ the refurb. They certainly are looking a lot more updated. The new rooms are designed by Laura Ashley they are using the space much better in the refurbed rooms.
The Lancaster (pictured)
The Lancaster is within walking distance of Lancaster gate and Oxford Street. It’s just minutes away from Paddington station and the Heathrow Express. The Hotel has of 411 bedrooms and is currently going through a big refurbishment. At the moment half of the bedrooms are off being refurbed and after that the 2nd half will be done. In October the reception/lobby area is going to be refurbed and transformed completely. Everything will be completed by September 2017, so there is some disruption at the moment. The work in the bedrooms is being completed from 8:30am-5pm Mon-Fri. So if you want to sleep in a little during the week you may get disrupted by the noise!
Amba Marble Arch
The Amba Marble Arch has just gone through a big refurb. It has been made very bright and airy with lots of white walls. The reception area now consists of individual check in pods. It has a very modern feel throughout. They are hoping to update the conference rooms next year. The Hotel has 692 rooms. Before updating the rooms they made a big effort to ask all their guest’s what they would like in the rooms. They have put the top 10 things that people requested into the rooms including espresso machine, steam iron, USB ports, free mini bar with fresh milk, long mirror with a plug, smart TV, no tray charge for room service, no clutter on the vanity desk, bigger bathroom products, touch screen tablet, and comfortable beds.
WOW! – Asking the guests what they want for the bedrooms, a no brainer!
The Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) has plans for a brand new exhibition and conference centre which is due to open in 2019. The current centre will remain open during the building works however by 2019 the space will have transformed.
Included in this redevelopment will be 3 hotels offering over 500 bedrooms on-site. The meeting/conference and exhibition space will be both flexible in size and functionality. There will be a 9000 square metre arena with a maximum capacity of 10,000 seated. Plus over 48,000 metre squared exhibition space as well as 21 other meeting rooms to be used for smaller/medium sized meetings or as syndicate spaces.
Here’s the latest information from Oatlands Park Hotel, Weybridge:
Oatlands is currently going through a £10 million refurbishment plan – all 144 bedrooms and hallways, refurbished Mulberry restaurant with new Bar. The Lawn Terrace will be enclosed with retractable roof and bi-folding doors with access to grounds, Lobby, new Gym, Swimming Pool & Spa Rooms.
They have refurbished meeting rooms. The exclusive York Suite will accommodate 400 in theatre-style and have access for cars launches. It has a separate entrance, reception area, bar and kitchen.
The venue has 12 meeting rooms with facilities for 6-400 people. An ideal location for corporate meetings, team building events, marketing opportunities or private dining functions.
Day Delegate Packages available from £45.00 pp & 24 hour rate from £165.00.
There are incentives if you book a meeting between now and the end of December 2016
The Aviator Hotel, a modern purpose-built design hotel at Farnborough Airport, has recently expanded its F&B offerings, by expanding to include the neighbouring pub, the Swan. The traditional British pub has been refurbished, and is now offering a gastropub experience to the hotel, to complement the hotel’s existing brasserie and American Diner. The hotel also offers five dedicated meeting rooms, as well as function spaces, along with a cocktail bar and boutique bedrooms. The Swan can be used exclusively for events for up to 100 delegates, alternatively private spaces are available for 10 delegates or more.
Great to have EEF Venues visit us last week, here are five key facts about the group.
1.They have invested over £2 million in refurbishing & upgrading all 3 of their venues collectively over the last 2 years
2.EEF are a group of dedicated conference and event venues giving customers the guarantee of a quality environment in which to meet/ work. As part of their promise they have a highly experienced, expert team and also include AV equipment, PA systems, and on-site technical support as standard.
3.They have just been re-named BDRC Continental’s ‘Number 1 Small Group’ for the third year running, plus all 3 venues have kept their AIM Gold accreditation from the Meeting Industry Association, and have received the BDRC Gold Award for customer service
4.They can offer Exclusive Use of Woodland Grange (our property in the Central Midlands)
5.Interesting fact: Princess Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey was filmed from the roof-top of Broadway House (our venue near St James’ Park, Westminster)
The Palace in Manchester has recently relaunched its event conference, meetings and events spaces as part of a multi-million-pound refurbishment. All 17 meeting and private dining spaces have been fully restored and upgraded to combine modern technology and contemporary décor whilst keeping the venues classic Edwardian features. The Art Deco ballroom can accommodate up to 1,000 guests seated, and can work in connection with the Whitworth room, which has original tiled features and columns. This can work as a pre-function space or a standalone room for up to 450 delegates. The director’s suite on the second floor has also been fully restored and rejuvenated to provide a setting for board meetings, exclusive parties and receptions for up to 100 guests.
The Lord’s Cricket Ground has opened two new meeting rooms and refurbished a further room during their £3.8 million investment into the venue. The rooms opened their doors on the 11th April 2016 in preparation for the new cricket season. The Grand Stand room is the main conference space which fits up to 56 cabaret or 100 theatre and for events booked in this space you also have use of the Mezzanine Father Time Gallery which could be suitable for breakout space. If preferred, the Gallery can be used on its own for a drinks reception up to 100 people.
Alternatively, the President’s Box can be used for dinners of 48 guests with views over the cricket ground which has recently been refurbished as part of the investment.
Other additions to the venue include digital signage and refurbishment to the kitchen and toilets.
What’s more for any event booked in the Grand Stand during May 2016 will receive a complimentary tour of the ground for 25 people.
