It is located just 20 minutes from Dublin City Centrein the picturesque village of Killiney in South County Dublin and enjoys stunning views over Dublin Bay. The hotel is a short distance from Dalkey Dart Station providing easy access to Dublin City Centre, the aircoach also stops outside the door of the Castle every hour.
The Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co. Dublin is an 18th Century 4-Star Castle Hotel which has been run by the Fitzpatrick family for the past 43 years. The hotel has 113 bedrooms and suites, two award winning restaurants, two bars, a 20m swimming pool and a fitness centre. The conferencing facilities consist of 12 meeting rooms for up to 600 delegates.
It is located just 20 minutes from Dublin City Centrein the picturesque village of Killiney in South County Dublin and enjoys stunning views over Dublin Bay. The hotel is a short distance from Dalkey Dart Station providing easy access to Dublin City Centre, the aircoach also stops outside the door of the Castle every hour.
We take a look at The Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney
The Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Co. Dublin is an 18th Century 4-Star Castle Hotel which has been run by the Fitzpatrick family for the past 43 years. The hotel has 113 bedrooms and suites, two award winning restaurants, two bars, a 20m swimming pool and a fitness centre. The conferencing facilities consist of 12 meeting rooms for up to 600 delegates.
It is located just 20 minutes from Dublin City Centrein the picturesque village of Killiney in South County Dublin and enjoys stunning views over Dublin Bay. The hotel is a short distance from Dalkey Dart Station providing easy access to Dublin City Centre, the aircoach also stops outside the door of the Castle every hour.
Your coaches will be stars from the sporting world, your à la carte meals will be prepared by internationally renowned chefs, there are bars and restaurants with spectacular views, the Sardinian sun that shines almost 300 days a year, and you can relax and take care of your well being at the Thalasso del Forte spa, one of the “Leading Spas of the World”. It’s pure paradise, which caters for 4 & 5 star guests and all just a few minutes from Cagliari airport.
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, lying west of the Italian mainland and south of France and Corsica, yet it can be reached by a mere 2 hour flight from the UK and under 2 hours from Rome, Paris and Milan. British airways have just recently started a new route from Gatwick airport to Cagliari which couldn’t be simpler. During off-peak season the airport at Sardinia is a pleasure to arrive and depart with hardly anyone around, very rare for any airport these days. You can find Sardinian festivals (gastronomic, religious and cultural) all year round, but September and October are the best months to enjoy them in full. The weather is still very nice and you can experience the thrill of being surrounded only by locals, and this makes the interactions much easier.
Forte Village is a huge resort approx 40 mins by road from Cagliari airport, Sardinia’s international airport, with 8 hotels, 3 villa’s (3 more being built due to finished summer 2015) and 44 Exclusive Suites and 21 restaurants. With an unlimited range of activities and fun things to do, exciting top-level sports, and the most sophisticated cuisine. Whilst during peak summer time (July & August) the resort is purely for leisure guests, corporate guests can take advantage of the shoulder months of May/June and September/October to run their events whilst the weather is still blooming. Some of the hotels have sea views, others open out onto tropical gardens. Some have a terrace or balcony, others feature a garden patio. Some are near the beach, others are near the spa. Whether you have a large meeting of over 500+ or a small meeting of 40, Forte Village can cater for all events with over 20 conference rooms in the congress centre and the largest can host up to 1000 participants. They also have 45 syndicate rooms ranging from 8 to 35 participants.
Your coaches will be stars from the sporting world, your à la carte meals will be prepared by internationally renowned chefs, there are bars and restaurants with spectacular views, the Sardinian sun that shines almost 300 days a year, and you can relax and take care of your well being at the Thalasso del Forte spa, one of the “Leading Spas of the World”. It’s pure paradise, which caters for 4 & 5 star guests and all just a few minutes from Cagliari airport.
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, lying west of the Italian mainland and south of France and Corsica, yet it can be reached by a mere 2 hour flight from the UK and under 2 hours from Rome, Paris and Milan. British airways have just recently started a new route from Gatwick airport to Cagliari which couldn’t be simpler. During off-peak season the airport at Sardinia is a pleasure to arrive and depart with hardly anyone around, very rare for any airport these days. You can find Sardinian festivals (gastronomic, religious and cultural) all year round, but September and October are the best months to enjoy them in full. The weather is still very nice and you can experience the thrill of being surrounded only by locals, and this makes the interactions much easier.
Fort Village Sardinia
Forte Village is a huge resort approx 40 mins by road from Cagliari airport, Sardinia’s international airport, with 8 hotels, 3 villa’s (3 more being built due to finished summer 2015) and 44 Exclusive Suites and 21 restaurants. With an unlimited range of activities and fun things to do, exciting top-level sports, and the most sophisticated cuisine. Whilst during peak summer time (July & August) the resort is purely for leisure guests, corporate guests can take advantage of the shoulder months of May/June and September/October to run their events whilst the weather is still blooming. Some of the hotels have sea views, others open out onto tropical gardens. Some have a terrace or balcony, others feature a garden patio. Some are near the beach, others are near the spa. Whether you have a large meeting of over 500+ or a small meeting of 40, Forte Village can cater for all events with over 20 conference rooms in the congress centre and the largest can host up to 1000 participants. They also have 45 syndicate rooms ranging from 8 to 35 participants.
Your coaches will be stars from the sporting world, your à la carte meals will be prepared by internationally renowned chefs, there are bars and restaurants with spectacular views, the Sardinian sun that shines almost 300 days a year, and you can relax and take care of your well being at the Thalasso del Forte spa, one of the “Leading Spas of the World”. It’s pure paradise, which caters for 4 & 5 star guests and all just a few minutes from Cagliari airport.
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, lying west of the Italian mainland and south of France and Corsica, yet it can be reached by a mere 2 hour flight from the UK and under 2 hours from Rome, Paris and Milan. British airways have just recently started a new route from Gatwick airport to Cagliari which couldn’t be simpler. During off-peak season the airport at Sardinia is a pleasure to arrive and depart with hardly anyone around, very rare for any airport these days. You can find Sardinian festivals (gastronomic, religious and cultural) all year round, but September and October are the best months to enjoy them in full. The weather is still very nice and you can experience the thrill of being surrounded only by locals, and this makes the interactions much easier.
Due to open this summer, the Soho Farmhouse is situated on a 125 acre Great Tew Estate in Oxfordshire. Built nearly entirely from the scratch and located just 90 minutes from London, the site will have 40 cabins in different sizes and styles, a seven-bedroom Farmhouse, and a four-bedroom cottage. There will be a boathouse with outdoor and indoor pools, a main barn for eating and drinking, a teeny barn and camp, cowshed spa, and steam and sauna island. The farmhouse will be able to accommodate a reception for up to 250 people.
Just some other of the facilities promised include a gym & studio, five-a-side football pitch, a two floodlit astro tennis courts, winter Ice rink, crazy golf, stables and an Electric Barn cinema. Previously due to open in July, the Soho Farmhouse grand opening has now been delayed until August.
Lisbon’s newest hotel, Pousada de Lisboa, is now open
This new hotel is in prime position on the corner of Terreiro do Paço, right in the heart of Lisbon, where the ships used to dock. It is a historic building with period features, chandeliers and vaulted ceilings and a domed inner courtyard which has now been restored and transformed into a luxury, boutique hotel.
For meetings there are two rooms: the Salão Nobre (pictured) with capacity up to 154 people and the Sala Terreiro do Paço for 143 people.
Pousada de Lisboa has 90 bedrooms and there is also a spa, swimming pool, sauna, treatment room and fitness centre. There are two bars and on the ground floor the restaurant, with seating capacity for 80 people, has views overlooking Terreiro do Paço – Praça do Comércio.
Last week I was lucky enough to visit Dubrovnik with a stay at the Dubrovnik Palace Hotel, courtesy of Mason Rose. See below for my report on the city as a destination, and the site visit for the hotel:
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik is located on the South coast of Croatia, across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, and is a very old and charming city, so much so it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The idyllic city feels like it should be in a Disney movie, surrounded by walls, between the mountains and sea, full of restaurants, cafes, shops, churches and museums.
The temperature in May was in the mid-20’s, while June/July/August (peak season) is even hotter, and the flight is roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes from the UK, and the city is 1 hour ahead of the UK. Croatia is currently a member of the EU (easy for travelling) but not currently in the Euro, instead they use the Croatian Kuna (HRK), which currently works out very roughly to 10 HRK = 1 GBP. From a cost point of view the city is slightly cheaper than the UK, for instance a dinner for two with cocktails right by the harbour in the old city comes out cheaper than Pizza Express in the UK. In terms of costs the peak season is very busy and rates reflect this, but April/May and September/October could be ideal as rates are a little lower, the city is less crowded, and the weather is still very pleasant.
The airport is modern, and is about a 30 minute drive from the city, but frankly you don’t mind the drive as the view from the taxi is mountains and sea.
Most of the hotels are located outside the old city, but buses and taxis are frequent and cheap, so you can enjoy the perfect mix of a quiet hotel but within easy reach of the old city. I would say that Dubrovnik is close to what you would think of for a European city, in that there is history around every corner, and part of the fun is just mooching round soaking up the atmosphere, people-watching, sipping ice coffees and enjoying the Italian-ish cuisine (my favourite part!)
USP’s
The old city
The atmosphere
The sea
Competitive alternative to Italy or Spain
Hotel Dubrovnik Palace
The Hotel Palace Dubrovnik is a large purpose-built hotel in the Lapad district of Dubrovnik, and is built onto a hill-side with the entire hotel enjoying sea-views. The hotel’s reception is based on the 9th floor, with meeting rooms above, while the bedrooms, restaurants, bars, swimming pools and private beach are located below. The hotel has a wealth of options of guests, including indoor and outdoor pools, and a private beach. There are three restaurants on-site, one serving Mediterranean a la carte, one serving world cuisine buffet, and the last serving a health-themed menu. The hotel is large and spacious, and on every floor an effort has been made to really maximise the sea view, which is stunning. The hotel faces the Croatian coastline and the Adriatic, with small islands, lighthouses, and ships going to and fro. The meeting space is light and airy, and is self-contained with a dedicated private entrance if required. The hotel can also offer a VIP private beach for private dinners, which would be amazing, and which have a discreet kitchen for timely food service.
The hotel is about a 45 minute walk from the old historic city centre of Dubrovnik, however the hotel is at one end of a bus line running directly to the city centre. Also the hotel has plenty of space for coaches and taxis for private groups and transfers.
On Thursday 14th May I attended the HBAA Golf Day at Menzies Welcombe Hotel in Stratford upon Avon. After driving from Stamford on the morning of the event the weather got gradually worse as I got closer to Menzies Welcombe Hotel.
Menzies Welcome Hotel is easy to find and has two separate entrances, one for the hotel and one for the golf clubhouse. The facilities at the clubhouse were excellent as participants gathered, registered and took a very hearty breakfast. After a short time of networking and catching up with other contacts in the industry, the brief welcome speech was given before I then headed out onto the range to warm up. Shortly after we made the way to our tees for a shot gun start and teed off at midday. It wasn’t long until the rain started to get heavier. In the end, it rained for the entire round.
Depsite the weather, the course was in good condition and it was a fair test for all levels of ability. There were some great feature holes on the course, not least the 17th, starting from in front of the hotel and teeing off over a long stretch of water. All in all, it is certainly a golf course I would recommend and wish to play again in improved weather.
After golf participants made their way to the main hotel for prize-giving and dinner. The hotel building is a stunning old country house originally built in 1866. The Welcombe Suite, where dinner was served, had large windows over looking the grounds and both the food and service were excellent.
Thanks to Menzies for their hospitality throughout the day, despite the weather not being the most suited to a golf day!
St Regis Venice San Clemente Palace renovation is complete
The St. Regis Venice San Clemente Palace the most desired address in Venice, has reopened after a £17 million renovation. This legendary retreat sits on its own private island in the heart of the Venice lagoon, and is just 10 minutes away Piazza San Marco by boat. The hotel has two bars and three restaurants including a signature restaurant with terraces overlooking the lagoon. There is a conference centre on the island with 6 meetings rooms. The largest rooms the San Polo & Santa Croce Room has a capacity of 300 people theatre style when combined together. These two meeting rooms can be divided by a sliding-walls system, and are ideal for special large events, congresses and business conference in Venice. The meeting rooms are all lit by natural daylight and look onto the private gardens of the Island.
Aria Hotel Budapest offer a variety of event spaces, from the year-round Roof Garden, the High Note Skybar, to the private salon for up to 10 VIPs, to the Teatro Aria, a salon and screening room which seats up to 50 people, in various styles. The largest space the Music Garden can hold up to 100 people theatre style. Both the Symphony Salon, Teatro Aria and Stradivari Restaurant open to the Music Garden providing for an elegant flow throughout the evening. Other amenities include a pool, Spa, fitness center, steam bath, sauna and whirlpool.
The Library Hotel Collection has added another hotel , the Aria Hotel Budapest. This is a luxury boutique hotel with an exquisite design inspired entirely by music. Each of the four wings is dedicated to one of four major genres of music, Classical, Opera, Contemporary, and Jazz. Each room and suite features caricatures by the acclaimed artist Joseph Blecha to celebrate the world’s greatest musical legends such as Maria Callas, Count Basie and Bob Dylan. The hotel is situated next to Saint Stephens Basilica and is located within 15 minute walk from Budapest’s top attractions and is a 30 minute drive to the airport.
Aria Hotel Budapest offer a variety of event spaces, from the year-round Roof Garden, the High Note Skybar, to the private salon for up to 10 VIPs, to the Teatro Aria, a salon and screening room which seats up to 50 people, in various styles. The largest space the Music Garden can hold up to 100 people theatre style. Both the Symphony Salon, Teatro Aria and Stradivari Restaurant open to the Music Garden providing for an elegant flow throughout the evening. Other amenities include a pool, Spa, fitness center, steam bath, sauna and whirlpool.
The Aria Hotel Budapest is now open
The Library Hotel Collection has added another hotel , the Aria Hotel Budapest. This is a luxury boutique hotel with an exquisite design inspired entirely by music. Each of the four wings is dedicated to one of four major genres of music, Classical, Opera, Contemporary, and Jazz. Each room and suite features caricatures by the acclaimed artist Joseph Blecha to celebrate the world’s greatest musical legends such as Maria Callas, Count Basie and Bob Dylan. The hotel is situated next to Saint Stephens Basilica and is located within 15 minute walk from Budapest’s top attractions and is a 30 minute drive to the airport.
Aria Hotel Budapest offer a variety of event spaces, from the year-round Roof Garden, the High Note Skybar, to the private salon for up to 10 VIPs, to the Teatro Aria, a salon and screening room which seats up to 50 people, in various styles. The largest space the Music Garden can hold up to 100 people theatre style. Both the Symphony Salon, Teatro Aria and Stradivari Restaurant open to the Music Garden providing for an elegant flow throughout the evening. Other amenities include a pool, Spa, fitness center, steam bath, sauna and whirlpool.
Set out over seven floors, it includes the Honey restaurant open for public bookings on the sixth floor, and a private members bar, Club Brass, on the top floor with stunning views across the city. The hotel’s design is inspired by the Art Deco heritage of the building, which first opened 80 years ago.
There are 60 bedrooms, 4 with inner sanctum suites and personal inner courtyards. The hotel has been fully refurbished as a luxury, 5-star hotel in the heart of Manchester’s most upmarket shopping district with boutiques such as Hermès, Whistles, Emporio Armani, Mulberry, and Reiss nearby.
Hotel Gotham is a brand new 5* hotel in the central conservation area of Manchester, situated in one of the city’s grandest, listed buildings – a former bank premises at 100 King Street designed by Edwin Lutyens and referenced in Pevsner’s Architectural Guide.
Set out over seven floors, it includes the Honey restaurant open for public bookings on the sixth floor, and a private members bar, Club Brass, on the top floor with stunning views across the city. The hotel’s design is inspired by the Art Deco heritage of the building, which first opened 80 years ago.
There are 60 bedrooms, 4 with inner sanctum suites and personal inner courtyards. The hotel has been fully refurbished as a luxury, 5-star hotel in the heart of Manchester’s most upmarket shopping district with boutiques such as Hermès, Whistles, Emporio Armani, Mulberry, and Reiss nearby.
New 5* hotel in Manchester – Hotel Gotham
Hotel Gotham is a brand new 5* hotel in the central conservation area of Manchester, situated in one of the city’s grandest, listed buildings – a former bank premises at 100 King Street designed by Edwin Lutyens and referenced in Pevsner’s Architectural Guide.
Set out over seven floors, it includes the Honey restaurant open for public bookings on the sixth floor, and a private members bar, Club Brass, on the top floor with stunning views across the city. The hotel’s design is inspired by the Art Deco heritage of the building, which first opened 80 years ago.
There are 60 bedrooms, 4 with inner sanctum suites and personal inner courtyards. The hotel has been fully refurbished as a luxury, 5-star hotel in the heart of Manchester’s most upmarket shopping district with boutiques such as Hermès, Whistles, Emporio Armani, Mulberry, and Reiss nearby.
Airy and bright the Al Bahrain Ballroom overlooks the bay and the Manama skyline. Offering 945 square metres (10,172 square feet) of luxurious space, the room can be divided into three smaller sections to accommodate different events. It can hold up to 750 people theatre style. The room features state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and pre-function area, connects to an outdoor terrace and lawn area. The Al Manama 1 and 2 function rooms are on the ground floor, adjacent to the Bahrain Ballroom, and both have 290 square metres (3,121 square feet) of space, with natural light and can hold up to 160 people theatre style each.
The hotel has four on site restaurants to choose from such as Cut by Wolfgang Puck and an open-air poolside restaurant, Vento. There are 273 hotel guest rooms – including 57 suites – and all have views from oversized windows, facing either north to the Arabian Gulf or south to the Manama skyline.
The Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay features a total of 3,577 m2 (38,161 sq. ft.) of function space. A dedicated porte-cochère off the driveway leads to both the Al Bahrain Ballroom and Al Manama Ballroom. Outdoor events unfold on The Terrace and The Lawn. In the Sky Bridge on the 50th and 51st floors there are four meeting rooms and two dedicated boardrooms with great views.
Airy and bright the Al Bahrain Ballroom overlooks the bay and the Manama skyline. Offering 945 square metres (10,172 square feet) of luxurious space, the room can be divided into three smaller sections to accommodate different events. It can hold up to 750 people theatre style. The room features state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and pre-function area, connects to an outdoor terrace and lawn area. The Al Manama 1 and 2 function rooms are on the ground floor, adjacent to the Bahrain Ballroom, and both have 290 square metres (3,121 square feet) of space, with natural light and can hold up to 160 people theatre style each.
The hotel has four on site restaurants to choose from such as Cut by Wolfgang Puck and an open-air poolside restaurant, Vento. There are 273 hotel guest rooms – including 57 suites – and all have views from oversized windows, facing either north to the Arabian Gulf or south to the Manama skyline.
Set in n the capital city of Manama, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay is a soaring architectural statement on its own exclusive island.
The Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay features a total of 3,577 m2 (38,161 sq. ft.) of function space. A dedicated porte-cochère off the driveway leads to both the Al Bahrain Ballroom and Al Manama Ballroom. Outdoor events unfold on The Terrace and The Lawn. In the Sky Bridge on the 50th and 51st floors there are four meeting rooms and two dedicated boardrooms with great views.
Airy and bright the Al Bahrain Ballroom overlooks the bay and the Manama skyline. Offering 945 square metres (10,172 square feet) of luxurious space, the room can be divided into three smaller sections to accommodate different events. It can hold up to 750 people theatre style. The room features state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and pre-function area, connects to an outdoor terrace and lawn area. The Al Manama 1 and 2 function rooms are on the ground floor, adjacent to the Bahrain Ballroom, and both have 290 square metres (3,121 square feet) of space, with natural light and can hold up to 160 people theatre style each.
The hotel has four on site restaurants to choose from such as Cut by Wolfgang Puck and an open-air poolside restaurant, Vento. There are 273 hotel guest rooms – including 57 suites – and all have views from oversized windows, facing either north to the Arabian Gulf or south to the Manama skyline.
Four Seasons Hotel opens in Bahrain
Set in n the capital city of Manama, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay is a soaring architectural statement on its own exclusive island.
The Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay features a total of 3,577 m2 (38,161 sq. ft.) of function space. A dedicated porte-cochère off the driveway leads to both the Al Bahrain Ballroom and Al Manama Ballroom. Outdoor events unfold on The Terrace and The Lawn. In the Sky Bridge on the 50th and 51st floors there are four meeting rooms and two dedicated boardrooms with great views.
Airy and bright the Al Bahrain Ballroom overlooks the bay and the Manama skyline. Offering 945 square metres (10,172 square feet) of luxurious space, the room can be divided into three smaller sections to accommodate different events. It can hold up to 750 people theatre style. The room features state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and pre-function area, connects to an outdoor terrace and lawn area. The Al Manama 1 and 2 function rooms are on the ground floor, adjacent to the Bahrain Ballroom, and both have 290 square metres (3,121 square feet) of space, with natural light and can hold up to 160 people theatre style each.
The hotel has four on site restaurants to choose from such as Cut by Wolfgang Puck and an open-air poolside restaurant, Vento. There are 273 hotel guest rooms – including 57 suites – and all have views from oversized windows, facing either north to the Arabian Gulf or south to the Manama skyline.
