EDGE Venues

Aberdeen Convention Bureau (ACB) has voiced its support for the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC)’s plans to invest £1m in extra floor space.

 

 

Kent House in Knightsbridge is the 47th prestigious Westminster venue, to join The Westminster Collection. Located in Rutland Gardens, and heralded as one of the capital city’s hidden treasures, its rich Regency and Victorian heritage provides an excellent choice of event options.

 

Imago, the leading conference and events business based at Loughborough University, officially opened the doors of its brand new hotel called The Link on Wednesday 29th September 2010. The Link boasts excellent accommodation and top of the range facilities which create the perfect business hub, all on a budget. With this new gem added to its portfolio, The Link marks a new phase in the successful growth of imago’s popular hotel and conferencing brand.

 

Manchester Central Convention Complex has completed the third and final phase of its impressive £30 million redevelopment programme.  The third phase of the building, which was completed ahead of schedule on the 8th September, boasts a 2,000m2 extension of flexible, client-facing space which can accommodate up to 800 delegates. The moveable walls ensure that space can be arranged according to client needs – from three separate conference rooms to one large, multi-purpose space.  The interior of the new extension compliments the modern design of the whole redevelopment with white walls, natural daylight and granite flooring. The foremost design objectives were to provide contemporary, operational benefits, whilst remaining sympathetic to the original features of the 19th century building – once Manchester Central railway station.

 

Colchester in Essex now boasts the newest state-of-the-art conference venue and is set to transform the conference scene in the eastern region. This brand new facility is centrally located at firstsite, Colchester’s breathtaking new art venue, where exceptional and flexible spaces for functions, receptions and special occasions are available for hire inside the beautiful golden clad building created by internationally renowned architect Rafael Viñoly.  Close by Colchester’s famous Castle Park, and at the heart of the retail shopping scene, firstsite’s world-class conference facilities centre on a high-spec tiered auditorium with 200 seats, ideal for conferences and training sessions and which also performs as a flexible venue for general hires. 

 

Supported by a number of linked meeting rooms and boardroom spaces in a choice of configurations, firstsite is capable of fulfilling the high-end conference and function requirements of the business, commercial, artistic and academic communities as well as cabaret-style entertainment.

 

Perception are pleased to confirm that following a successful £5 million renovation programme, the Academy of Medical Sciences has opened their new headquarters at 41 Portland Place, London on 11th October 2010. The new headquarters provides a prestigious venue for non residential meetings and events, offering a range of facilities to accommodate meetings, conferences, private dining and non residential events. Located in the heart of London, the Grade II* listed building designed by James Adam in 1773, is close to Euston train station and a 5 minute walk from both Oxford Circus and Regents Park tube stations. The rooms available for hire are spread across three floors providing seven meeting rooms, an exhibition area and a purpose built conference suite. Audio-visual services, video conferencing and Wi-Fi internet will be available throughout the meeting rooms.

 

 

The 10th January 2011 sees the opening of the new four star hotel, the City Inn Tower of London Hotel.  The 7th City Inn hotel set to be one of London’s most exciting new hotels. Situated a few minutes walk from Tower Hill and Fenchurch Street station this hotel is perfectly positioned for easy access to London’s historic and business capital.  Designed by leading architects using the highest environmental standards a modern, quality hotel has been created that engages with its historic environment and the sky line of the City of London. All 583 bedrooms feature the modern comforts of home from standard to luxury with uninterrupted views of Tower Bridge and the river. The hotel has roof gardens and a penthouse lounge bar, SkyLounge offering views of equal quality over the city sky line.

 

 

The most ambitious hotel restoration in history is complete.  The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, reopened its doors on Sunday, October 10th, 2010. The hotel closed in December 2007 for a restoration program that encompasses the entire building from the iconic entrance and the American Bar to Savoy Grill and the 268 guestrooms and suites.  The bars and restaurants of The Savoy have always played a major role in establishing the reputation of the hotel and a new life has been breathed into them.

 

The Savoy Grill to reopen on 29th November 2010.  Dating back to 1889 and located in The Savoy on the banks of the River Thames, The Savoy Grill is one of London’s most iconic restaurants. Gordon Ramsay Holdings is delighted to announce that 29th November 2010 will see its long-awaited reopening following a refurbishment of the entire hotel.  A private dining room will be available for up to 40 guests and the restaurant will also feature an exclusive Chef’s Table situated in the kitchen.  Reservations for the restaurant, private dining and Chef’s Table will open at 9:00am on Monday 1st November 2010.

 

 

Sol Meliá has announced the acquisition from Anida, a subsidiary of the BBVA Bank, of the City Bank building in London, redesigned as a cutting-edge contemporary hotel by the British architect Norman Foster, winner of the Pritzker Prize for architecture and the Prince Felipe of Asturias Award for the Arts. The hotel is in the final stage of construction and is located in the tourist and business heart of London, next to Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, in the district of Holborn. The building has 10 room floors and four underground floors and occupies a triangular piece of land which was previously the site of the famous “Casa Marconi” and the City Bank building. The hotel will provide 173 rooms in four different categories and its strategic location and characteristics – it will also offer a 730 m2 Convention Centre and spectacular restaurants and bars. The ME London is expected to open in 2012 and will become the second hotel for the Sol Meliá chain in the British capital, joining the Meliá White House, located next to Regent’s Park and which has enjoyed a decade of uninterrupted success.

 

 

The eagerly anticipated St Pancras Renaissance Hotel London will officially open in London’s Kings Cross in May 2011. The original building – The Midland Grand Hotel – was designed and built by the foremost Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott and opened on 5th May 1873. The historic hotel has now been lovingly and masterfully restored to once again become one of London’s most iconic hotels. The £150 million renovation of the 245-room hotel consists of the historic St Pancras Chambers that will house 38 elegant and spacious Victorian bedroom suites, and Barlow House, the newly created 120,000 square foot extension that will feature original artwork and contemporary design. Guests can continue to re-live the glamour of the Victorian era at either The Booking Office Bar & Restaurant – recreated in the original ticket office – or the celebrity chef restaurant and bar, occupying the original entrance hall and coffee room. The hotel will also house a 350 capacity ballroom, a private club, a barber’s shop and luxury spa, to include a swimming pool and 7 treatment rooms.

 

Peel Leisure has announced their Holiday Inn hotel at MediaCityUK will be opening this month. Located on Manchester’s Waterfront, Salford Quays, the Holiday Inn Manchester-MediaCityUK will offer 218 air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms, a gym, meeting facilities and private dining, at the heart of the largest purpose built media community in Europe. The hotel’s fine dining experience will offer guests the chance to sample fine British cuisine at The Green Room Restaurant, the hotel’s  stylish restaurant on the mezzanine floor, or for a light-bite offering meet at the Hub Bar, the perfect place for morning coffee, afternoon tea, lunch, bar snacks and that important after work drink.

 

The Lowry in Salford Quays, Manchester, is expanding its conference facilities through a development within the Digital World Centre building. The new facilities will include a tiered theatre holding 100 delegates and 350sqm of exhibition space.

 

 

Opening in 2011, the £72m Museum of Liverpool in the famous waterfront area will provide 6000sqm of event space over 3 floors.

 

 

London City venue The Brewery will finally see a hotel open on its doorstep in June 2011. The Montcalm London City Hotel will offer a 5 star product with 325 bedrooms, event space, gym, spa and restaurant.

 

 

Aintree Racecourse has completed a £35m redevelopment programme which has seen the opening of two new grandstands that can accommodate up to 600 delegates in each.

 

 

There are plans for a £15m Southport Cultural Centre due to open in 2012. This will offer a major contemporary art space, a 430 seat theatre and a studio that can hold up to 600.

 

 

Norwood Hall Hotel recently opened a £3.5m stand alone conference centre in the grounds of the existing hotel. The centre includes seven conference rooms and with four opened up will accommodate 200 theatre style. The hotel already offers 36 beds, with a further 37 to come next month.

 

 

Aberdeen’s only five star hotel, The Maycliffe Hotel and Spa, has unveiled plans to invest £50m upgrading and adding 200 bedrooms to the existing 35 and an international conference centre for up to 400 delegates.

 

 

International

 

 

Get into the beat. Europe’s first music hotel is here – in the heart of Berlin. Directly on the banks of the river Spree, and at the epicentre of the music, fashion and creative scene, a new lifestyle hotel is opening in November 2010 that is absolutely unique in Europe: the nhow Berlin. Thanks to the spectacular design and cutting-edge technology, every one of the 304 rooms is a source of inspiration and at the same time the perfect retreat from the city’s hustle and bustle. Welcome to Conference 3.0 – the nhow Conference Centre! In 7 different meeting rooms and Berlin’s only conference hall (575 square metres, 4,60m ceiling height, accessible for cars), with direct views of the river Spree through floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as direct access to the terrace, you will find a spectacular and unique location for your event for up to 700 people. Whether you’re planning a conference, celebration or product presentation – at the nhow Berlin it is sure to be an exclusive event!

 

 

Sheraton is to open ten of its Four Points-branded hotels by the end of the year, across three continents. Four Points by Sheraton has opened sites in Lagos, Nigeria (222 rooms) and Galveston, Texas (118 rooms). In October it will open in Tucson, Arizona. In November, Four Points will inaugurate properties in Tripoli, Libya (205 rooms), Bangkok, Thailand (268 rooms), and Tai’an, China (311 rooms). In December debuts in Pune, India (215 rooms), Visakhapatnam, India (122 rooms), Houston, Texas (79 rooms), and Memphis, Tennessee (125 rooms) will follow.

 

 

The Concorde Hotels & Resorts Group is promoting a sustainable approach to conferences and meetings for event managers at six of its Paris-based hotels. The programme, called “Meet and Commit” is part of the hotel group’s commitment to social responsibility, announced last month. Meeting rooms are equipped with recyclable bins and delegates are encouraged to use a selection of electronic media, such as downloadable presentations and CD-Roms online. Brochures are printed on 100% recycled or eco-friendly paper and the hotel also offers event managers and delegates additional information on sustainable issues. Catering facilities are also designed with sustainability in mind, with menus featuring locally-grown produce, local dishes made with seasonal products and organic and fair trade products provided for break times.

 

 

The Melia Colbert Boutique Hotel has undergone an upgrade to its rooms and facilities. The 19th century venue, operated by Sol Meliá, has 39 rooms which will now include internet access, LCD television, air conditioning and central heating. Its Grand Suite, with views of Notre Dame, has also undergone cosmetic changes. Located in the Quartier Latin district of Paris, the hotel’s rooms are now designed to be more ‘comfortable and functional’, with a new ‘contemporary’ design.

 

 

The Mercure Ostrava City will be opening in the Czech Republic in early 2011. The Group is continuing its development in the country and ambitions to develop a network totalling 15 hotels by the end of 2011, particularly through franchising. Accor started its operations in the Czech Republic in 1998. Today, the Group operates seven hotels in the country: the Century Old Town Hotel, member of the MGallery Collection, the Novotel Praha Wenceslas Square and five ibis Hotels, the latest of which opened in the city of Plzen. At the beginning of 2011, the opening of the Mercure Ostrava will mark the first milestone in the strategy for steady development through franchising. In a few months, the Mercure Ostrava City will be welcoming guests in 140 spacious, comfortable rooms. Utmost attention has been given to meeting facilities. Finally, the restaurant and bar, inspired by the history of the building slated to receive the new Mercure, will include the French touch in food and wines.

 

 

By the end of the year, Frankfurt International Airport will be one of the world’s biggest airport meeting hubs. Opening in December is the new Conference Centre as well as the Hilton Frankfurt Airport and Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport. The airport’s hotel capacity will expand to more than 3,000 rooms with ten on-site conference facilities comprising about 200 meeting rooms.

 

 

Sol Melia has launched a new 5 star hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The hotel has four conference rooms accommodation up to 400 delegates, as well as four restaurants, five bars and 468 bedrooms.

 

 

W New York has opened on Wall Street. The 217 room hotel is spread over 58 floors and offers panoramic views of Manhattan. It has 1,933sqft of event space.

Exciting times for the Sofitel London Heathrow has been awarded “Best New Business Hotel in the World 2010” for the second year running.

 

 

Work has started at The Harrogate International Centre (HIC) on a £13m project to create two new event halls, the expansion will mean there is an additional 3,300sqm of event space which is due to be completed by Autumn 2011.

 

 

The Pavillion Arts Centre in Buxton’s Pavillion Gardens Complex is due to open this month. The new venue is the product of a £2.5m redevelopment and will offer exhibition space of 80sqm and 200sqm.

 

 

London Syon Park, part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection, is due to open in November on the Syon House Estate. The Grand Syon Ballroom will be able to hold 450 theatre style and the roof top lounge and herb garden make this a truly unique venue.

 

 

The Folly is a new East London venue due to open in October which can cater for 240 for dinner and features and deli, flower shop, library and private dining facilities for 20.

 

 

From 1st October Swissotel The Howard will be home to a traditional Swiss-themed pop-up this festive season. The chalet will take up to 70 for dinner or 120 for a reception and will be reminiscent of a royal hunting lodge with wood panelling, a cosy lounge and a log fire.

 

 

De Vere venues has added Tesco’s residential training centre, Ponsbourne Park in Hertfordshire, to its portfolio.

 

 

Work has started at Telford International Centre (TIC) to create 2 new entrances, additional breakout space and a whole new event suite meaning nearly 3,000sqm of additional space.

 

 

Five luxury boutique hotels in London, Edinburgh and Leeds which are part of the Eton Group have been placed in to administration, however the hotels are continuing to trade.

 

 

The Royal Bank of Scotland has put 6 of its Hilton Hotels on the market for a total asking price of £200m in an attempt to return to profitability after two years of record losses.

 

 

Von Essen’s Hotel Verta in Battersea has opened offering 70 beds and conference facilities for up to 200 delegates including a roof top event space for 350 standing.

 

 

Four Seasons London will re launch in late 2010 following a transformation of the bedrooms, suites, restaurant and bars plus a deluxe roof top spa with views over Hyde Park.

 

 

Opening of the W Hotel and Residences London Leicester Square has been delayed until February 2011.

 

 

 Hilton London Metropole has just completed a £1.8m refurbishment of its West Wing.

 

 

The Science Museum London is due to open its £4m interactive climate science gallery in November providing exhibition and reception space for up to 300.

 

 

Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn Theatreland Glasgow are benefitting from a £10m upgrade as part of the re launch of the brand.

 

 

CCT Venues-Smithfield underwent a major refurbishment in May and have just completed changes to the ground floor of CCT Venues-Barbican. This includes the creation of a self-contained suite with new rooms and a refreshment area featuring a ‘fresh bean, fresh milk’, self-serve coffee machine.

 

 

The Brewery, one of London’s most prolific event spaces is to benefit from a five star hotel on its doorstep.  The Montcalm London City Hotel is set to open its doors to delegates, business travellers and weekenders in the confines of the reputed event space. A discreet transformation of the former site is under way and is set to marry the Grade II listed architecture with an upscale hotel, offering world class service levels with a design-led ethos.  The 235 bedroom hotel will be owned and managed by Montcalm Hotels whose premise is to offer boutique design while preserving heritage values. All bedrooms will be of king size proportions with suites designed especially for business travellers and the signature Heritage Brewery Suites providing the ideal bolthole from today’s fast paced city scene with a nod to the building’s 18th century origins.  The opening of the hotel will provide additional event space especially designed for intimate boardroom meetings and private dinners meaning the Brewery’s number of available rooms will increase to 12. 

 

 

Hallmark Hotels has acquired its sixth hotel; Hallmark Gloucester, retaining staff and set to begin a £3 million refurbishment.  Situated in the Cotswolds, the former Ramada hotel is located just two miles from Gloucester city centre. The hotel includes a pool, health club and beauty salon as well as exceptional corporate and events facilities. The new owners, Hallmark Hotels, will be looking to upgrade the hotel from its current three stars to bring the property in line with the rest of the four-star Hallmark collection.

 

 

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and The Fat Duck Group have joined forces to create Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Chef Heston Blumenthal’s first London restaurant which will open at the award-winning Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London in December 2010.

 

 

Apex Hotels received national acclaim when it was named Small Hotel Group of the year at the AA Hospitality Awards 2010 – 2011. The AA, celebrating the best in hospitality, held the glamorous black-tie ceremony, hosted by journalist and TV Presenter Penny Smith, at the London Hilton on Park Lane on 27th September. The AA Hospitality Awards recognise and reward the excellent services provided by the UK’s very best establishments and launches the 2010 AA guides to UK hotels and restaurants.

 

Apex Hotels is one of the UK’s leading operator of four-star, contemporary hotels. Based in Edinburgh, the company operates the Apex City and Apex International in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, in addition to owning/operating the Apex European in Edinburgh’s West End, Apex Waterloo Place Hotel, the Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa in Dundee and the Apex City of London and Apex London Wall Hotel. Apex Hotels continue their expansion plans with their latest acquisition at 1-3 Sergeant’s Inn. Apex is creating the first hotel in one of London’s Inns of Court. The Apex Temple Court Hotel, due to open in early 2012 and situated just off Fleet Street, is a landmark building with a rich history and will be converted into a four star luxury contemporary hotel with 184 bedrooms, each offering the latest in business facilities together with restaurant, bar, executive lounge and gym.

 

 

International

 

 

On 7th September 2010 the Convention Centre in Dublin opened its doors. Situated only 20 minutes from Dublin Airport, the CCD is Ireland’s first world class, purpose-built conference venue. The centre offers 22 flexible halls and meeting rooms.

 

 

Valencia Conference Centre has won the title of World’s Best Congress Centre, awarded by the International Association of Congress Centres. UK venues that made the shortlist included the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, Belfast Waterfront and the Brighton Centre.

 

 

Intercontinental Hotels group (IHG) has posted half year results showing profits of £108.7m, down 38% year on year. However, it outperformed the market in each of its three geographical regions, with the UK being one of the more resilient markets.

 

 

The former Royal Dutch telecom headquarters in the Hague has been transformed into a new upscale hotel. Hilton The Hague offers 195 bedrooms and 10 meeting rooms, with a maximum capacity of 400 guests.

 

 

Frankfurt – Jumeirah will open a hotel in the city’s major new PalaisQuartier leisure and retail development this December. Sol Melia will open a 162 room, four star hotel in 2013. Grand Hyatt is due to open early 2012, this will incorporate 2,500sqm of conferencing and banqueting space.

The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the opening of the Radisson Blu Hotel, East Midlands Airport in the UK. The new build property featuring 216 guest rooms is scheduled to open its doors in Q1 2012.

 

 

Jurys Inn Bradford has opened offering comfortable 3 star accommodation at competitive prices; 3 meeting rooms that hold up to 40 people in each, a stylish Bar & Restaurant and also a cardio gym.

 

Corinthia Hotels have released further details of the five-star luxury hotel it is building in central London, which is due to open in early 2011. It will become the world’s ninth Corinthia hotel.  The hotel is being constructed within an imposing Victorian building, on a city block location between Whitehall Place, Northumberland Avenue and Great Scotland Yard, overlooking Trafalgar Square and the River Thames. The grand Victorian exterior houses fully-reconstructed elegant and contemporary interiors set around an inner foyer and garden, two restaurants, a luxury spa, a concept cocktail bar, boardroom meeting facilities and a beautifully refurbished grand ballroom.  There will be 294 intricately designed guest accommodations, including 45 luxurious suites.

 

The Mersey Partnership (TMP) Tourism Awards 2010 saw Echo Arena Liverpool scoop the award for Performance Venue of the year.

 

The Science Museum will re-open its event space, the Wellcome Wing, after a 6 month refurbishment programme.

 

Two more premier Westminster venues have joined The Westminster Collection this week. They are The UK Supreme Court, based in Parliament Square, which recently re-opened after an extensive refurbishment; and 116 Pall Mall, the home of the Institute of Directors. Bringing the number of venues exclusively showcased to 46.

 

The Radisson Edwardian Group has been given a Platinum Award in the Green 500 Initiative – Boris Johnson’s ambitious plan to make London a greener place. The hotel group won the top award at the recent Green 500 Awards ceremony for its encouragement of staff to find inventive ways to save energy which has already resulted in a 13% cut in electricity. The group have also installed a CHP plant unit at their Heathrow Hotel which will save £70,000 a year in energy costs. Low energy light bulbs are now in guest bedrooms and corridors throughout the estate with movement sensors in low use public and staff areas. These initiatives are part of a radical ten-year programme across twelve hotels based in London to create the greenest hotels in the capital. Radisson Edwardian have a Responsible Business Team of 22 and a Green Team at each hotel of six people who meet regularly to discuss new ideas and the suggestions of the 1500 company employees who are involved in the initiative. Since formation in 2009 there have been 32 suggestions that have been implemented with a huge effect on the company’s carbon footprint.

 

 

The Thistle is located in the heart of Manchester, and only 5 minutes from Piccadilly station. The progress so far is that 5th floor bedrooms have started to be refurbished and 6th & 7th floor bedrooms completed. The completion date for all of the bedrooms is 19th October and the rest of the hotel by mid November.

 

41 Portland Place, a grade II listed Georgian townhouse that was designed by James Adams in 1773, opens as an event space in October. The venue is currently benefiting from a £5m refurbishment and is home to the Academy of Medical Sciences. Event spaces are spread over three floors, with seven meeting rooms and an outdoor terrace.

 

Base2stay Liverpool a multi-million pound hotel development in the centre of Liverpool’s historic RopeWalks district welcomes its first guests. Bookings are now being taken for the unique base2stay hotel in Seel Street, at the heart of the former European Capital of Culture’s nightlife and entertainment quarter. The hotel arrives in the city following the success of its flagship venture in London’s Kensington. It will be the second base2stay hotel in the country. One of its unique selling points is rather than having a bar or dining facilities on site, each air-conditioned room is equipped with a mini-kitchen, and the hotel encourages guests to explore their surroundings by offering exclusive discounts at restaurants, bars and cultural venues across the city.

 

Crowne Plaza Heythrop Park – Oxford is set to open in Oxfordshire in October. The £50m property will be located in the Heythrop Park Resort and will offer 197 rooms, a Diarmuid Gavin-designed, Moroccan-style courtyard and a cocktail bar. The resort also offers the 153-room Heythrop Park Hotel, an 18-hole golf course, a contemporary health club, four restaurants and bars, and a conference centre with capacity for 450 delegates.

 

The University of Sunderland has become a member of Newcastle Gateshead Convention Bureau. The university has joined as a Newcastle Gateshead Initiative convention bureau and corporate member. It offers five riverside and city centre venues, including City Space, which recently hosted BBC events such as the televised North East Sport Awards. The venues offer several lecture spaces with capacity for 800 delegates and an onsite cinema.

 

Scalford Hall management training centre in Leicestershire has opened new Xperiential Learning facilities. The range of activities can be used individually or as a course, with more than 30 pieces of equipment and activities to choose from – some as high as 16 metres off the ground – all located in the beautiful landscaped gardens or woodlands of Scalford Hall. The new product will enhance classroom training and meetings at the venue by re-energising and bonding the team.

 

 

Hilton Garden Inn has opened in Aberdeen city centre. The new build hotel offers 100 bedrooms, all featuring a spacious work desk, ergonomic Mirra chair by Herman Miller, telephone with data port and voicemail and complimentary wired and wireless high-speed internet access. Bathrooms contains a separate bath and double size walk-in rain shower, while other amenities at the hotel include a business centre and Pavilion Pantry which are both open 24-hours a day.

 

 

Four-star boutique hotel group Abode has opened an 85-room property in Chester. The hotel is situated adjacent to Chester’s ‘Roodee’ racecourse, overlooking the River Dee, and offers a choice of room categories from ‘Comfortable’ through to ‘Fabulous’. Three sixth floor Fabulous suites feature hand-built beds and oversized baths along with private balconies. All rooms feature bespoke art created by celebrity photographer, Brian Aris, while the 76-seat Michael Caines Champagne Bar and Restaurant has floor to ceiling windows offering far reaching city views.

 

 

International

 

 

On 15 June, NH Hoteles and its largest suppliers (NH Sustainable Club) met with one another to share their thoughts about sustainability. In 2008, NH Hotels drew up its Environmental Strategic Plan. Since that time, they have been able to save 12% on energy consumption and 25% on water consumption. Furthermore, CO2 emissions have been reduced by 16% and NH produced 17% less waste. These results were achieved through a wide variety of initiatives, such as new product-thawing processes and oxo-bio facilities.

 

 

The five star Donnafugata Golf Resort & Spa has opened its doors and is celebrating this with a magnificent opening promotion. This beautiful brand-new luxurious resort enjoys a peaceful location amongst unspoilt beaches, nature reserves and cultural and historical areas in Sicily. With two 18-hole golf courses, this is an ideal spot for golf enthusiasts.

 

 

The Courtyard Charleston/Summerville in South Carolina will be the first hotel built using Marriott International’s green hotel prototype, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This will dramatically accelerate the company’s goal to have 300 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotels by 2015. Marriott is the first in the hospitality industry to launch a green hotel prototype that has been pre-approved by USGBC as part of its LEED Volume Program, meaning that any Marriott hotel that follows these plans will earn basic LEED certification, or possibly higher, upon USGBC final approval.

 

Intercontinental Hotels Group has reported a 22% rise in its operating profits, citing growth in business travel and demand in the Far East. IHG – which owns Holiday Inn – revealed its interim results this morning, with operating profits up to £138m ($219m) from £113m ($179m). The group’s revenue was up 6%, from £459m ($726m) to £488m ($772m).

IHG opened 148 hotels in the first half of the year and expects to open a further 140 over the rest of 2010. IHG’s senior vice president, global corporate affairs Leslie McGibbon said: “Business travel had almost disappeared last year and we have seen the return of that with the improvement in the economy across the top end and middle market.” McGibbon added that while growth in China had been particularly strong, there had also been a very good performance in London. London’s hotels saw a 5.9% increase in revenue per available room over the first six months of the year.

 

 

Hilton Hotels & Resorts (formerly Hilton Hotels), the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, introduced a refreshed brand name and logo today. The new name and stylish logo holistically represent the brand’s extensive global portfolio, which includes more than 70 resorts with more than 32,600 guest rooms in key leisure markets around the world. “Generations of global travellers share a strong connection with our brand identity,” said Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand. “Our name and core mark are both recognizable and incredibly powerful. This evolution reflects the modern style and world-class resorts that define our brand today.”

The 2010 UK Events Market Trends Survey found that the market is worth about £18.8bn annually to the UK economy, including delegate and event organiser spending at venues and in the wider destination. It is the first time Eventia has estimated the overall value of the conference and business events market. Previously, it has given estimates of direct revenue to venues. The survey is based on data supplied by a representative sample of 403 UK venues, which is 11.5% of the destination’s 3,500 venues. The report also found that:

• There were an estimated 94m attendances at the 1.3m events that took place in 2009

• Each UK venue hosted an average of 379 events in 2009, compared to 391 in 2008

• Events are most commonly booked two to eight weeks in advance

• Clients are negotiating more on venue rates and shopping around for value for money

• Catering spend is reducing

 

 

Royal Bank of Scotland has sold the Cumberland Hotel in London’s Oxford Street. Starwood Capital and London & Regional Properties have bought the Cumberland Hotel for an estimated £215m. The 1,000 room hotel – which features a 350-person event space, as well as 18 event rooms and seven meeting rooms – is located in Oxford Street, close to Marble Arch and Hyde Park. The sale was completed after the hotel went on the market around 10 weeks ago. RBS sold the hotel through CBRE Hotels, and Guoman Hotels will continue to run the venue.

 

 

Folio Hotels, a UK based group of 8 hotels, has today announced that it has rebranded as Akkeron Hotels to coincide with the launch of the group’s new company website www.akkeronhotels.com. Akkeron Group, an investment business formed in 2008 by James Brent, previously Global Head of Real Estate & Lodging of Citi’s investment bank, acquired Folio Hotels in December 2009. The Akkeron Hotels brand, officially came into effect from 13th July 2010  and venues include: Makeney Hall in Belper, Derbyshire; The Yorkshire Hotel, Harrogate; The Caledonian Hotel in Oban; Cedars Health and Leisure Club, Richmond-upon-Thames; and the Harte & Garter Hotel & Spa in Windsor.

 

 

An online survey polling 1180 venues shows that 58.4% reported cancellations in public sector bookings during the past 2 weeks.

 

 

Wyboston Lakes has completed a five month programme of improvements, including £250,000 of investments in its leisure facilities focussing on the Waterfront Conference Centre and surrounding bars and restaurants, plus a new 120 space car park.

 

 

Manchester City Football Club has committed over £1.5m to overhaul conference facilities at the stadium. The investment will include an upgrade of all the executive boxes to platinum standard and refurbishment of the boardroom dining facility.

 

 

A new Aloft Hotel managed by Starwood will open at the end of 2011 in advance of the Olympics. The 252 bedroom hotel will open on the Excel site.

 

 

Eastbourne Pier has won a £250,000 development plan to create a conference and meeting venue for up to 250 people.

 

 

Church House in London has received the BDRC ‘Venue Verdict’ Gold Standard.

 

 

The Moller Centre in Cambridge has achieved a national accreditation from the Institute of IT Training. The Moller Centre exceeded expectations when poor weather in January meant delegates couldn’t make the meeting – rather than cancel the event the venue organised a live webinar with delegates logging in remotely.

 

 

Stoke Park Hotel, Spa and Country Club Resort has been awarded five AA stars for the hotel’s accommodation, menu, facilities and service.

 

 

Conference Centres in the UK have dropped their prices by an average of 3%, according to M&IT’s UK Convention Centre Price Comparison Survey.

 

 

Jersey has just gained 2 five star properties, one of which is The Grand in St Helier, which has recently secured the prestigious status thanks to a £15.2m refurbishment.

 

 

Oxford Spires Four Pillars Hotel is currently renovating Eastwyck Farmhouse, a Grade II listed former bursar home in the grounds, to include an additional 10 bedrooms. They are also renovating the hotels main function suite, bar and a further 34 bedrooms.

The Oxford Thames Four Pillars refurbishment includes The Little Barn for meetings and functions whilst the Riverside Restaurant will be completed by the end of summer.

 

 

The Swan Hotel and Spa in Newby Bridge (Lake District) has reopened after a £4m project to renovate the property after being devastated by the floods last year. The venue boasts 4 conference rooms, the largest of which will hold 100 theatre style.

 

 

MWB Meeting Venues Paddington has just opened in London, just a 5 minute walk from Heathrow Express platforms at Paddington. The venue offers 14 rooms with a total capacity of 200.

 

 

The Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Warwickshire has created a 160 acre site including a sandy beach which can be hired for exclusive use.

 

 
The Cotswold Conference Centre has been given the go-ahead for a major two-year refurbishment programme. The £3.5m programme will see the creation of 36 new bedrooms – almost double the existing number – plus the refurbishment of current bedrooms in the venue’s Picton House and Dales Croft.

 

 

As part of its environmental policy, Lane End Conference Centre is now sourcing all its milk directly from a local family which has been farming in South Bucks with pedigree Guernsey cows for seven generations since the 1930’s. Guernsey milk is recognised for its additional health benefits with more Beta Carotene, Omega 3 and Beta Casein A2 than any other type of milk.

 

 

Imago has achieved the gold award in the ‘Access for All’ category in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2010. It has also recently clinched the top prize in the Sales and Marketing category at the Leicestershire Business Awards 2010.

 

 

Warwick Conferences is set to benefit from a multi–million pound rolling refurbishment programme, starting this September. It will bring updates to residential, communal and conference areas around the estate, and will be completed by March 2012.

 

 

The five star Hilton Cardiff is to undergo a £750,000 refurbishment programme to position the hotel as Cardiff’s premier meeting venue and attract new visitors to the city.  Currently in its 11th year of trading, the hotel’s investment will include a new lounge bar and lobby area with ground floor toilets and establish Hilton Cardiff as the place to meet at any time of day.

 

 

Hilton Worldwide announced the signing of an agreement with the Ability Group to open a new Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts Hotel in Grade I-listed Syon Park, West London. London Syon Park, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel is scheduled to open in November 2010, offering an exceptional blend of parkland tranquillity and easy access to the city centre.

 

Further significant enhancements to facilities at Wyboston Lakes have been completed. This means that in the first five months of the year, Wyboston Lakes – the UK’s largest privately owned single site training and conference venue – has completed a range of improvements involving an investment of £250,000.  The latest developments relate to the relaxation and leisure facilities on the venue’s 350 acre site between Cambridge and Bedford.

 

The Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre (RHH) has recently undergone a major refurbishment of its original wooden parquet floors at the Lindley and Lawrence Halls. Both spaces are constantly in use for a wide variety of events including award ceremonies, banquets, fashion shows and product launches, all of which had taken their toll on the original pitch pine and teak floors.

 

Chesterfield’s £20 million Casa Hotel may not be officially opening its doors until later this year, but guests are now being offered an exclusive preview of the hotel’s show-bedroom. Visitors to the room will be the first to gain a glimpse at the luxury accommodation, state-of-the-art facilities and touch of Spanish flair that Chesterfield’s only 4 star hotel will provide for its guests.

 

 

International

 

 

Leonardo Hotels recently opened a new conference hotel in Berlin. The Leonardo Royal Hotel Berlin has 346 rooms and 10 meeting rooms plus a great Ballroom for up to 300 people classroom or 500 people theatre style. The hotel is right in the centre of Berlin near the famous Alexanderplatz.

 

 

Barcelona has overtaken Paris in the ICCA world rankings. Paris has dropped to third place behind Vienna. Paris is followed by Berlin, Singapore, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Beijing. London moved from 19th to 16th on the list.

The Jolly St Ermins in London are already well into the planning stages for a £30 million refurbishment which will touch all areas of the Hotel. It is the intention to retain all of the splendid historical elements like the mosaics, plasterwork and balusters. They will reinstate the garden at the forecourt that was an integral part of the original entry when St. Ermin’s was mansion flats. They will be combining all of the single bedrooms with the adjoining rooms as well as creating several suites when the office block is converted to additional bedrooms in mid-2011. The bedroom stock will be entirely new including a complete rework of the baths. The restaurant/bar will be expanded and breakfast will be moved to this area instead of the ballroom. They do anticipate that the Hotel will need to be closed for a short time, currently estimated at 4th Jan until reopening on 6th March. When they do reopen, the forecourt, public areas and majority of the bedrooms will be completed.

 

 

Hilton London Metropole has grabbed the gold for ‘Best Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events Hotel’ in the UK. The hotel triumphed despite stiff competition from other big names in the industry at the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2010.

 

The Hilton London Metropole is also delighted to announce that they have introduced a new room type, the Superior rooms, following an extensive £1.8m refurbishment in the hotel’s West Wing. With their contemporary design in vibrant and fresh colours and floor-to-ceiling windows, these bright and airy rooms offer superior comfort on 30m²-34m².

 

 

Team Spirit continues to forge ahead as market leaders and activity product developers with the launch of their new conference activity, Sense of Achievement. It’s a fun, interactive challenge that encourages team bonding whilst energising your conference audience. Run over five 15 – 20 minute sessions, each session is based around a different human sense, throughout your conference day. Sense Of Achievement keeps morale high and the momentum flowing throughout your event.

 

 

The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel is the latest member of the Westminster Collection, bringing the Portfolio to 41.

 

 

Work has started on site of the Aloft London ExCeL, a sleek new hotel at ExCeL in London’s Docklands. Designed by architects Jestico + Whiles, the hotel is scheduled to open at the end of 2011, in readiness for the London Olympics. The project is being developed by ExCeL London’s parent company, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) in partnership with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

 

 

The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, will reopen its doors on Sunday 10th October 2010. One of this year’s most eagerly anticipated openings, The Savoy has been undergoing the most ambitious restoration in British history. The hotel closed in December 2007 for a restoration that encompasses the entire building from the iconic entrance and the American Bar to Savoy Grill and the 268 guestrooms and suites.

 

 

Homewood Park, part of the von Essen Hotel Collection, is proud to announce the opening of The Spa at Homewood Park. Set in acres of mature parklands and award-winning gardens on the edge of the beautiful Limpley Stoke Valley, near Bath, the spa completes the hotels full renovation, following the refurbishment of the public rooms and bedrooms in 2009. Opening officially in July, the Spa at Homewood Park is the first spa of 5 to be completed this year following the extensive multi-million pound investment across the collection to enhance von Essen’s luxury offering in 2010.

 

 

The Grove in Narberth, Wales is an 18th century country house, which has opened its doors to the corporate market. Situated in 24 acres on the edge of the Pembrokeshire National Park, the newly refurbished venue has 12 bedrooms and four self contained cottages. The Grove has three event spaces, the Garden Room, which has its own private terrace and can cater for a maximum of 22 delegate’s theatre style. The panelled room can hold a maximum of 16 delegates and the study can hold 10 delegates. The whole venue can be hired exclusively. Food is prepared by Nigel Marriage, a two Michelin star chef who was previously head-chef at Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons.

 

 

A new meeting venue destination has opened up just five minutes walk from the Heathrow Express platforms at Paddington Station in London. MWB Meeting Venues Paddington offers 14 rooms and has the capacity to accommodate up to 200 delegates in a range of flexible room configurations, all housed on the fourth floor of the new One Kingdom Street building. To celebrate the opening of this building there is a special £40pp day delegate rate introductory offer.

 

 

Corporate guests can take their bucket and spade to their meeting at the Heart of England Conference and Events Centre in Warwickshire. The most central sandy beach in England has been created at the 160-acre venue which can be hired by companies for exclusive use. Delegates can relax in deck chairs and enjoy ice cream or hop on a pedalo or rowing boat. Other teambuilding activities at the 300-capactity conference centre include quad biking, zip wire and crazy golf.

 

 

The Science Museum in London has re-opened its Wellcome Wing event space after a six-month development and refurbishment programme. The upgraded ‘Who am I?’ gallery presents the latest brain science and genetics through a mixture of interactive exhibits and object-rich displays. New interactive exhibits will enable guests to morph their face and experience a voice box makeover. Corporate and private clients will be able to hire the gallery for evening drinks receptions for up to 350 guests. In addition, a new gallery exploring climate science will be launched in November, offering an events space for up to 300 standing.

 

 

The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science has made Chicheley Hall near Milton Keynes available for meetings and events. The historic Grade I Georgian house has undergone an £11m redevelopment programme which has helped change it into an International Centre for Science. The Coach House has been converted into two lecture theatres for up to 100 delegates and includes a glazed atrium providing registration and break out space. The main house features 47 en-suite bedrooms and four meeting rooms for up to 25 delegates all with views across the glorious grounds.

 

 

The second phase at Excel London is now complete; the £160m expansion in Docklands has added a 5,000 seat auditorium, a banqueting hall with seating for 3,000 and a flexible conference suite for up to 2,500.

 

 

Flagship hotel openings ready for the Olympics include Renaissance St Pancras with 244 rooms alongside the Eurostar Terminal, Starwood’s luxury W in Leicester Square with 194 beds and 4 meeting spaces and The Shard of Glass (new London Bridge Tower) containing 195 room, 6 star Shangri-La hotel.

 

 

The Museum of London has completed redevelopments of their lower galleries spending £20.5m on creating new reception space.

 

 

Barceló UK has just completed a restoration project for 2 hotels, The Barceló Combe Grove Manor Hotel in Bath and the Barceló Stirling Highland Hotel in Scotland.

 

 

Well Met Conferencing at Leeds Metropolitan University has opened its new venue addition – Broadcasting Place.

 

 

Staffordshire’s Hawkesyard Hall has a 180 year old oak table at the centrepiece of the estates £300,000 re launch which will add a huge amount of history to any board meeting.

 

 

Telford Hotel and Golf Resort has undergone a 12 month, £10m refurbishment with the hope of the venue being not only a golf, spa and conference hotel but also a great wedding and leisure destination.

 

 

The Wood Deck at The Montague is a new alfresco event space at Bloomsbury’s four star boutique hotel The Montague. Launched last month it offers a peaceful retreat from the city overlooking the private gardens of the Bedford Estate. It can be hired exclusively for groups of up to 120 and when combined with the adjoining terrace can hold up to 200.

 

 

The MacDonald Cardrona Hotel & Golf Course in Peebles has announced extensive development plans. Approx. £5m will be invested in the hotel alone to create 50 new bedrooms, a brand new conference suite and a new restaurant.

 

 

International

 

 

A national treasure built in 1824, The Shelbourne Dublin, A Renaissance Hotel has been magnificently restored while keeping its historic charm. The Shelbourne Dublin is a luxury Five Star hotel in Dublin city centre overlooking St. Stephen’s Green, Europe’s grandest garden square. Ideally situated close to Dublin’s cultural and historic buildings, The Shelbourne Dublin offers a great location, from where you can visit the majestic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College or explore shops on Grafton Street. Enjoy a cocktail or Ireland’s own Guinness at the renowned Horseshoe Bar and celebrate life at the Oyster Bar or a prime-cut steak at The Saddle Room Restaurant.

 

 

Jurys Inn Hotel Group is investing €9 million this year in an extensive refurbishment programme in support of its new brand proposition of “Exceptional Everyday City Hotels”.  The programme follows a significant €4.6 million major refurbishment and upgrade of two of Jurys Inns landmark Dublin hotels, at Christchurch and Custom House Quay, in addition to significant upgrades for the hotels in Cork and Galway.

 

 

The Mövenpick Resort & Marine Spa Sousse Tunisia opened in April 2010. It is located on a prime 300 meter beach and in the heart of the city center. Only 20 Km away from “Habib Bourguiba Monastir” airport and 135 Km from downtown Tunis. 618 furnished rooms and all rooms have balconies or terraces. State of the art meeting facilities, including the main conference room (629 square meters) and 3 break out rooms of 48 square meters each.

 

 

Events facilities at Congress Centre Basel in Switzerland are to have a major revamp with an investment of CHF430 million.

 

 

The Nuvola (The Cloud), a contemporary new conference centre in Rome is finally under construction after years of delays. The futuristic design centres around a fibreglass ‘cloud’ containing an 1,800 seated auditorium ‘floating’ inside a huge glass and steel box. The development, located in the city’s business district also includes two large congress halls, a 6,000 m2 exhibition space and a 439 room hotel. It is expected to open mid 2011.

 

 

Dolce Hotels and Resorts have opened the 255 bedroom hotel ‘Dolce Munich-Unterschleissheim’ next door to its existing Dolce Ballhaus Forum conference centre.

 

 

Park Plaza Vondelpark in Amsterdam has been reopened with a 4 star status. It was closed for 3 months, during which time it had a complete makeover.

Dorchester Collection, the luxury hotel group whose hotels include The Dorchester in London, Plaza Athénée in Paris and The Beverly Hills Hotel in LA, is set to open a new country house hotel and eco-luxury spa, Coworth Park near Ascot in September 2010. Set in 240 acres of idyllic Berkshire parkland, yet just 45 minutes from Central London, Coworth Park is a restored Georgian Manor House and estate with 70 rooms and suites. 

 

 

Newly arrived at the RIBA – enjoy a Twinings Tea Ritual Afternoon Tea on the beautiful Florence Hall Terrace. Positioned in the heart of London, this divine little sun trap provides the perfect setting for an afternoon tea.

 

 

A new Hilton by Hampton hotel is currently under construction and should be open Mid September 2010. Located just off Junction 23 of the M4.

 

The New Macdonald Windsor Hotel, a contemporary townhouse in central Windsor, is the latest addition to Macdonald Hotels & Resorts’ impressive portfolio. Located on the site of the old Caley’s Department Store, this 120 bedroom hotel offers the quality and finish of a 5 star boutique property along with many original features and is ideally located opposite the Guildhall and Windsor Castle.

 

76 Portland Place is proud to announce that we have received the silver level award from Green Business Tourism. Green Tourism for London is the first independently audited Green Accreditation scheme for the meeting industry in London.

 

Magnuson Hotels, the world’s largest independent hotel chain, has signed 20 properties within the first two weeks of its official launch in the UK. Magnuson Hotels, which represents more than 1,200 properties in North America, is targeting independently-owned hotels with 20-plus bedrooms with its ‘fee-free’ business model which allows the hotelier to retain their independence.

 

Twycross Zoo is going through lots of change including the opening of new conference rooms and a banqueting /exhibition area, which looks out on to the superb Snow Leopold’s.  Twycross also has the facility to host team building activities.

 

Set to redefine guest experience; the new generation, 4 Star Holiday Inn Reading M4 Jct 10 opens on the 23rd June 2010, providing the latest and most innovative design and standards within the Intercontinental Hotel’s Group brand. The hotel has 174 luxuriously appointed bedrooms including Executive Rooms and Junior Suites. 

 

After a two year £25m redevelopment project Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa has opened its doors to guests, bringing five-star hospitality to York for the first time. 

 

New meeting and training rooms have been unveiled at London’s historic underground Churchill War Rooms. The modern spaces offer air conditioning, integrated AV and adjacent break-out rooms and can be used in conjunction with the recently refurbished Switch and Harmsworth Rooms for events for 10 – 400 people. 

 

The Ricoh Arena in Coventry completed its £3m expansion programme in May. Enhanced conference and exhibition facilities at the 38,000-capacity stadium include three new exhibition halls with retractable walls, boosting capacity from 8,000 to 10,000 and event space from 6,000sqm to 8,500sqm.  There is also a new 650-seat indoor sound proofed auditorium and a remodelled arrival area for the exhibition halls, while work on a new entrance to the on-site 71 Rooms & Silk Suites Hotel will be completed in June.

 

QHotels property The Queens in Leeds has opened a new executive floor, ‘QClub’. The dedicated floor incorporates 18 executive guest rooms and suites, a complimentary bar, executive lounge serving breakfast, meeting and office space and a private terrace providing views of Leeds’ skyline.

 

Following a £70,000 investment, the four-star Stratford Manor near Stratford-upon-Avon, has opened the Conference Café. The new business and training facility, which has been designed explicitly with small and medium meetings in mind, offers complimentary break out space, free flowing tea and coffee, unlimited snacks, complimentary WI-FI and computer access to all delegates.

 

Following the recent refurbishment of nine event spaces, healthcare charity The King’s Fund has relaunched its London headquarters as No.11 Cavendish Square. The Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, overlooking Cavendish Square, combines period features with contemporary designed conference suites in the adjoining extension.
Natural light and harbour views are both on offer in the new glass-fronted Grand Ballroom at Wyndham Grand, London Chelsea. The ballroom can be divided into five spaces and accommodate up to 1,000 conference delegates, or 600 guests for evening events.

 

In addition, two new interconnecting meeting rooms have opened on the penthouse level. Albert Bridge and Battersea Bridge both seat up to 60 people, offer river views, and are equipped with plasma screens and projectors. A new executive lounge is exclusively available to those using the meeting facilities or staying in the penthouse suites.

 

Located on the historic Brooklands race track in Surrey, the new Brooklands Hotel combines a contemporary glass design with an art deco inspired interior. The property, which has a section of the 1930s racing circuit running through its reception and is next door to Mercedes Benz World, offers 120 luxury rooms and suites, spa, cocktail bar, restaurant, and seven sets of meeting rooms ranging from the Brooklands Suite, that can cater for up to 175 people, to the Boardroom which can host up to 12.

 

Charles Boyd, the man behind caterers Chester Boyd, has launched The Northumberland within a magnificent Grade II listed Victorian building off Trafalgar Square in London. Built in 1887 as part of a 500-room ‘grand hotel’, the building has been occupied by the Crown since 1940 and has undergone a £7m refurbishment to create a 1,000 guest capacity events venue.  The impressive interior includes ornate plaster work, carvings and stained-glass windows, while its restaurant, Boyd’s Brasserie & Bar, is in a magnificent marble walled room. Catering is overseen by head chef David Collison, who previously ran the Queen’s garden parties.

 

A former East London town hall has reopened as a hotel. The aptly named Town Hall Hotel and Apartments makes the most of the building’s Edwardian architecture. The carefully restored conference & banqueting rooms include The Council Chamber, an impressive art-deco room with walnut panelling and raised seating for up to 70 people, and Bethnal Hall, which is made up of four interconnected rooms that can be separated by vertically sliding walls of polished wood or joined together to make a banqueting or conference space for up to 200. The building is a popular film location and has featured in Atonement, Brideshead Revisited and Poirot.

 

A range of new outdoor event spaces have been made available at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Alfresco events and receptions can now take place on the Pavilion Roof Terrace, Mound Stand Terrace or the tranquil surroundings of the Harris Garden.

 

A spark of life has been breathed into London’s Battersea Power Station with the launch of a new venue inside the iconic building. The Boiler House at Battersea Power Station is a 1,000-capacity temporary structure with a clear gable end and roof section offering impressive views of the power station’s chimneys.

 

Lingfield Park Marriott opened this month with its four function suites seating up to 350 delegates banqueting style. The Marriott is connected to Lingfield Park Racecourse in Surrey and offers 116 bedrooms, a spa and golf course.
 

 

Harrogate International Centre has announced a £13m investment into the venue which will create 3400 sqm of additional event space when it is complete in Autumn 2011.

 

 
Birmingham New Street Station is currently being transformed by a £600m project and the government has just unveiled plans for a new high speed rail link between London and Birmingham with work due to commence in 2017.

 

The Holte Suite at Villa Park can now accommodate up to 800 guests and the Symphony Hall has just opened its doors to public events and can stage conferences for up to 2,200 delegates.

 

 
Nottingham Conferences has just become the first academic venue to sign up to the 2012 UK Event Industry Fair Pricing and Practice Charter which has been established to ensure fair pricing during the Olympic Games. Nottingham Conferences operates East Midlands Conference Centre, University of Nottingham, University Park, Jubilee Campus and Sutton Bonnington.

 

 
The Herbert Museum and Art Gallery in Coventry has just completed a £20m redevelopment and can hold up to 200 delegates.

 

 
Telford International Centre’s next phase of development is to create a 200 bedroom onsite hotel and to also develop bars/restaurants/parking/outdoor event space by 2016.

 

Carden Park, part of the De Vere Group, has completed a £350,000 refurbishment creating the self contained Carden Suite which can hold up to 400 delegates with its own entrance and car park.
 

 
The Lancaster London has been awarded silver from the Green Tourism for London – an official recognition of the hotels environmental policies.

 

 
The Science Museum (London), The National Media Museum (Bradford) and The National Railway Museum (York) have all become the first national museums to be awarded World Class Service recognition – audited on all levels of service.

 

When the Corinthia Hotel London opens its doors in December 2010, it is set to become one of London’s most prestigious hotels in this cosmopolitan capital.  Originally the magnificent Metropole Hotel that opened in 1886, the new hotel will be completely refurbished with 300 exceptionally designed and spacious bedrooms. The hotel will also feature a number of suites offering outstanding views, including the River Thames, The London Eye, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. From the elegant central courtyard foyer, to the restaurants, luxury spa, destination bar, meeting facilities and the delicately refurbished grand ballroom, this hotel will offer guests a lavish retreat into timeless beauty in this historic and exciting city.

 

International

 

 

Dublin’s 50,000-seat Aviva Stadium, part of the Lime Venue Portfolio, officially opened on 14 May. Event facilities consist of more than fifty diverse spaces spread over five levels. Spaces vary in size and are flexible allowing for two to 800 people in any one space (total capacity is 2000). The stadium, designed to be Ireland’s most sustainable venue, offers 36 corporate boxes varying in capacity from two to seventy people. Also available is the state of the art Media Auditorium with seating for 190 guests and outdoor marquee areas.

 

 

As from 13 May 2010, 90% of the 280 rooms in the Hermitage in Monaco will have been renovated, bringing the decoration of this elegant Belle Epoque luxury hotel up to date with a new, functional look. The newly decorated restaurant, “Le Vistamar”, which has been redesigned with a new, separate bar, will also be unveiled, as will the new Eiffel Hall and its four new meeting rooms. A total of six rooms for meetings and receptions will therefore be available. From mid-July 2010, two additional new meeting rooms will also be available to clients, making a total of eight meeting and reception rooms.  Finally, in January 2011, the long-awaited new 310m² conference room, the “Salle Eiffel,” which can be divided into two sections, will be available.  (It can seat 260 for a banquet, 340 people as a theatre).  There will also be three new meeting rooms.

 

 
Having made a name for itself all over the world, the chic and casual style of Buddah Bar Lounges is coming to Monaco. The Société des Bains de Mer will open the new establishment in June 2010 in its “Golden Triangle”, a wing of the Monte-Carlo Casino. The lounge will be able to receive 160 guests in its restaurant and a hundred more in the exotic Buddha Bar. The establishment represents a completely new concept, combining a restaurant featuring inspired haute cuisine and the finest service available anywhere with a bar bathed in a musical atmosphere specially orchestrated by a talented DJ. The Buddha Bar will form an exclusive trio with the Principality’s two other exciting new hotspots… the “Moods”, soon to celebrate its 2nd anniversary, and the “Black Legend”, Monaco’s most recent nightclub acquisition.

 

 

The Hyatt Dusseldorf is due to open in December 2010. It’s set to be Hyatt’s 5th hotel opening in Germany.

 

 

A total of 47 million Euros has been invested in the new entrance, service and conference Mitte area of the Nuremberg Exhibition and Congress Centre in Germany.

Hampton Hotels Opens Three New Properties in the United Kingdom

Hampton Hotels, part of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of brands, today announced the opening of three hotel properties in the United Kingdom, located in Birmingham, Braintree and Shrewsbury. The converted hotels are owned by Osborn Securities and managed by Hilton Worldwide. These hotels increase the UK Hampton by Hilton estate to five, creating more than 500 additional rooms.

The first hotel to open (March 16) was Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Star City, located just five minutes from Junction 6 of the M6, and only two miles from Birmingham city centre. This hotel is in an ideal location for discovering all the attractions this vibrant area has to offer – including the Bullring shopping centre, Fort Dunlop, Cadbury World, NEC and ICC. The hotel is surrounded by the Star City entertainment complex, which is perfect for guests to catch a movie or sample local restaurants. The hotel has 90 spacious, non-smoking bedrooms, including family rooms.

The Hampton by Hilton Shrewsbury opened on March 18 and is located on the outskirts of one of the finest medieval market towns in the UK, close to the Welsh border and easily accessible from Birmingham and the Midlands. The hotel is in the newly developed Shrewsbury Business Park. In addition, it is only a 15 minute drive from Telford, which boasts many business districts along with the Telford International Centre. The hotel is a great property for business travellers, offering 75 rooms to relax and rejuvenate after meetings, as well as for leisure travellers visiting shopping areas and historic sites.

The Hampton by Hilton Braintree opened March 23 and is located just ten minutes from Stansted Airport and 45 minutes from central London. The hotel is also conveniently located for visiting other attractions in Braintree, including the famous Freeport Designer Outlet Village just five minutes from the hotel, and the Fennes Estate and Leez Priory wedding venues. An ideal base for exploring Essex and the surrounding cities, guests can visit the London 2012 Olympic regeneration area and access Eurostar Kings Cross/ St Pancras International station, via an easy 45 minute train journey. With 76 rooms, the Braintree hotel is sure to be a welcome retreat for many local and international visitors.

Guests can expect exceptional quality from the three newly converted properties. These hotels are designed and styled to appeal to business and leisure travellers, offering best in class service and comfort. Currently guests can enjoy rates starting from £45 per room per night* when they book via Hamptonbyhilton.com, which includes a free fresh hot breakfast served daily. Hampton by Hilton continues to exceed guest’s expectations with outstanding guest service and value, a top priority for Hampton.

All the newly opened Hampton by Hilton hotels feature the brand’s signature key offerings including stylish lobbies and free high-speed internet access. Additional guest amenities include a 24-hour snack area featuring light entrees and sandwiches and a bar area along with evening dining options for guests to connect after meetings. Also on site is a stylish fitness centre and meeting space. Hotels also feature free on-site parking.

 

The Strand Palace Hotel in London has announced that the Mask Bar can now be booked for private events for up to 50 people.

Lord’s have been awarded a Business Development Research Consultants (BRDC) Gold Standard ‘VenueVerdict’ – one of only 19 such highly rated venues in the country. BDRC launched the new ‘VenueVerdict Gold Standard’, award which is only given to venues delivering the very highest levels of customer satisfaction over a period of time, based on large volumes of customer feedback. Lord’s was picked out as one of the first ever recipients of the award – alongside venues such as The George Hotel in Edinburgh and Silverstone racing circuit.

May sees the opening of a brand new hotel and leisure development at Lingfield Park Racecourse. A 4* Marriott which has magnificant views over the racecourse and has a relaxing spa and 18 hold golf course. In addition Lingfield Park has invested almost £1/2 million to refurbish the existing principal conference and hospitality facilities.

The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science has announced that Chicheley Hall near Milton Keynes will open as a venue for meetings and events from the beginning of June. The historic Grade I Georgian house, which was purchased by the Royal Society in March 2009, will serve as the Kavli Royal Society International Centre, an extension to the Royal Society’s base in London, to host a wide range of scientific meetings and events. Chicheley Hall, will also open to both the commercial and social markets to host events such as team building, away days, both residential and non residential conferences, meetings and seminars.

 

Chandos House, the second property of The Royal Society of Medicine in Westminster, London has taken the Westminster Collection to its 40 member milestone. An exclusive Grade 1 listed Georgian Townhouse venue built between 1769 and 1771, Chandos House is located in the heart of London’s medical quarter, between Portland Place, Oxford Circus and the fashionable Marylebone Village. The house now offers five principal function rooms, each with its own unique character and ambiance. All of the rooms have natural daylight and there is a charming outdoor walled Garden Terrace.

 

Broadway House has launched a brand new meeting space, the Stephenson Room. It can accommodate 56 delegates cabaret style or 40 boardroom style and has air conditioning and natural daylight.

 

A magnificent new high-end 4 Star New Generation Holiday Inn, ideally located in the Winnersh Triangle, within close proximity of the M4, Bracknell & Wokingham is due to open on 2nd June 2010.

 

ExCeL London launched their ICC on 1st May! The centre has undergone an expansion and investment programme worth £165m and the new facailities include a purpose-built auditorium for up to 5,000 guests as well as the Capital Hall able to host receptions for up to 5,000 people.

 

Weetwood Hall, 3 miles from Leeds, achieves the gold accredited standard from the Meetings Industry Association. They are the first venue in Leeds and the North of England to achieve this award.

 

Opening with 20 bedrooms early May and the rest in June, York’s Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa revives the luxury and splendour of the Golden Age of travel. Impressive, sweeping staircases, mosaic-tiled corridors, individually designed rooms, sumptuous bathrooms and a unique vaulted spa provide a cinematic backdrop for a most memorable stay.

 

The Churchill War Rooms has opened new meeting and training rooms. The new air-conditioned spaces are equipped with latest AV equipment and adjacent break-out areas for small groups and private meetings. Existing rooms Switch and Harmsworth have recently been refurbished and can be dressed with war time items including gas masks, billy cans, trunks and sandbags, and waiting staff can be dressed in military and 1940s attire.

 

4th May is the re-opening of the superbly refurbished Mercure Southampton Centre – Dolphin Hotel.

 

International

 

Marriott International’s world-class luxury hotel brand, JW Marriott, plans to open 10 properties in five countries in 2010, bringing the total global portfolio of the brand to 54 hotels and resorts and 24,000 rooms. This unprecedented growth represents an investment exceeding $2 billion by JW Marriott property owners and franchisees.

As part of a global reorganization aimed at accelerating worldwide growth, Marriott International, Inc. plans to double its portfolio in Europe by 2015. Amy McPherson, president and managing director of Marriott International Europe, made the announcement at the International Hotel Investment Forum. Celebrating 35 years in Europe this year, Marriott International is represented with 174 hotels in Europe, and envisions increasing its portfolio from 40,000 rooms to 80,000 rooms by 2015. Seven of Marriott’s 18 brands are represented currently in Europe: Ritz-Carlton, Bvlgari, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments. In addition, the first European Residence Inn, an extended-stay brand, will open in Munich in 2012.

The Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire has been awarded the highly coveted Meetings and Incentive Travel (M&IT) Gold Award for Top UK hotel. Gleneagles, a member of the Leading Hotels of the World, saw off strong national competition from other top establishments shortlisted, which included The Dorchester, Chewton Glen and The Grove.

 

Opening in May 2010, after a 16 month closure and under new ownership, The Ellington, Leeds, a chic luxury 35 bedroom boutique hotel will become the latest addition to the Bespoke Hotels collection. With new owners and an entirely new team this stylish hotel is nestled in a row of Georgian buildings in the heart of the financial district minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with bar and restaurant spearheaded by chef Nicholas Evans. The Ellington offers a choice of bedrooms, from contemporary to the more classical New Orleans style.

 

The name derived from a tribute to The Duke of Ellington who played at the citys’ 1958 music festival, culminates in an introductory opening rate which will run from 29th April 2010 for two months offering £111 B&B per room per night to celebrate The Duke of Ellington’s birthday who would be 111 on the opening day if still with us. After the two month introductory rate, rates start from £155 for a superior double and from £200 for a junior suite. Enjoying enormous beds, Egyptian cotton linen, fringed lampshades and glass-bead curtains, the jazzy bedroom style is off-set with plenty of 21st century technology – flat screens, Nespresso machines, squared off baths and Hansgrohe fittings all complete the luxury feel. Enjoying a peaceful location away from main roads and disturbance, the hotel is also close to a park, ideal for guests wanting an evening stroll.

 

The Ellington hotel welcomes guests and visitors who can enjoy morning coffee or afternoon tea in the light-filled open plan reception area – perfect also for an evening aperitif or light snack. The restaurant at The Ellington – situated in the basement – continues the jazz theme, with fabulous black and white images of music legends and a menu led by Nick Evans. There is free wired and wireless internet access throughout the hotel and iPods with pre-downloaded music are available to borrow. The Ellington has two meeting rooms, each with natural daylight, accommodating up to 30 people, with a separate entrance to the Boardroom, for private meetings.

 

The Royal Garden Hotel, London’s largest independent five star hotel is proud to announce the opening of the Park Terrace restaurant and bar, which will open at the beginning of May. The launch follows the success of the critically acclaimed restaurant Min Jiang on the tenth floor, opened in September 2008. The Park Terrace restaurant will be located on the ground floor of the hotel, offering stunning views of Kensington Palace Gardens. The restaurant will be divided into three areas: a restaurant serving à la carte British cuisine, with a strong focus on locally sourced ingredients; a lounge area offering a more informal dining option with all day dining and afternoon tea available; and a bar which will provide the focal point of the room, visible from the hotel lobby with an extensive selection of wines, beers, spirits and contemporary and classic cocktails. The executive chef of Park Terrace is Steve Munkley, whose ethos of sourcing as much of his produce as possible locally strongly underpins the restaurant menu. 

 

Munkley has worked closely with local suppliers including Ashlyns farm co-operative in Essex and Mrs Tee’s for wild mushrooms and New Forest venison. Steve’s culinary career spans 30 years, including executive chef positions at London Kensington Hilton, Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square and the Compleat Angler in Marlow. Steve was also chairman of the Craft Guild of Chefs and an Honorary Fellow of Thames Valley University, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the hospitality industry. Park Terrace will also offer a traditional afternoon tea featuring sandwiches, cakes and scones from the award winning Park Terrace pastry chef. The bar, headed up by Vilmos Csehi will offer classic cocktails with contemporary British highlights such as the Kensington Martini.

 

The interior of Park Terrace will feature a stylish and warm colour palette of neutral tones, highlighted by light bronze accents and dark wood. The sleek quartzite stone bar, located in the centre of the room, will offer a backdrop against the floor to ceiling views of the neighbouring Kensington Palace Gardens. The restaurant will also offer a spacious private dining room, with space for up to 36 guests. Bespoke menus will be available in consultation with Steve Munkley, starting from £31.00 per person. Offering picturesque views over Kensington Gardens combined with excellent value British cuisine, Park Terrace looks set to be a great addition to the Kensington dining scene.

 

Plans have been unveiled for a new 20m boutique hotel in the heart of Newcastle city centre. The 148-bed, four-star Hotel Indigo is set to open in Fenkle Street, near to The Assembly Rooms, creating more than 80 full and part time jobs. The hotel, developed by Sanguine Hospitality, will open in February 2011 subject to approval by the city’s planners. Hotel Indigo Newcastle will be the developer’s first venture into the North East and only the fourth Hotel Indigo in the UK. Last year, Newcastle and Gateshead attracted 18.77 million visitors, maintaining hotel occupancy levels of 77% despite the recession.

 

Well Met Conferencing scooped the ‘New Venue’ award for their flagship venue, the Rose Bowl, which has already achieved a ‘Best Development’ and a ‘Design Excellence’ gong from the Yorkshire Property Industry Awards. The Rose Bowl, which has a dedicated conferencing and events space, succeeded strong competition at the event from The Copthorne Hotel, Sheffield and the Aagrah, Leeds/Bradford. Yorkshire Business Insider said: ‘In an industry re-inventing and refreshing itself throughout 2009, nowhere was this more apparent than with the new venues springing up across the region. Judges described the Rose Bowl, Leeds, as a fantastic addition to the city’s venue stock, performing excellently in a short period of time and displaying real versatility.’

 

The state-of-the-art signature glass building offers dedicated space to conferences and events with capacities that make Well Met one of the largest conference venues in the city. The Rose Bowl’s unique structure is the home for Leeds Business School and provides organisers with a choice of 7 lecture theatres which can accommodate for up to 256 delegates as well as breakout facilities for larger conferences. The Rose Bowl also incorporates a number of key environmental features which contributed to the ‘Rose Bowl’ gaining BREEAM excellence, the world’s longest standing and most widely used environmental assessment method for buildings. Now in their third year, Insider’s Yorkshire Business Tourism Awards recognise those organisations and venues that really go that extra mile to bring more business into Yorkshire, celebrating the very best of Yorkshire’s business tourism industry.

 

The second studio which is due to open on 20th April is located in Manchester’s vibrant northern quarter. Featuring nine bright, airy and individual event spaces accommodating from 2 to 180 guests, each with the innovative style and cutting edge technology. Located in the Hive (one of Manchester’s first BREEAM excellent rated buildings) the studio benefits from natural ventilation, individually controlled air-conditioning, sensor lighting and water saving features. There’s even a sedum roof terrace with direct access from the main event suite. In addition to a further 2 outdoor terraces dedicated for the use of studio guests. The proximity to public transport networks including rail and tram services means that you can easily travel to thestudio without it costing the earth, in either sense! thestudio can be found just 6-10 minutes walk from Manchester Piccadilly station and a short distance from the bus and tram terminus at Piccadilly gardens.

 

Redevelopment of the Brighton Centre will not start for at least another 3 years. Work on the convention centre was dues to commence in 2008 but was then postponed until 2010. Now it has been pushed back again. The £400m redevelopment is expected to take 2 years, meaning the new centre will not be ready until 2015. Having the venue empty is predicted to cost hotels, shops and restaurants £4m per year.

 

Jury’s Inn is set to invest £9m in 2010 on updating and expanding existing properties in support of the groups new brand classification – Exceptional Everyday City Hotels.

 

London’s Strand Palace Hotel, has added a new Westminster Suite. Located on the ground floor and featuring contemporary decor, the suite is ideal for private dining up to 40 guests.

 

Rockcliffe Hall, a 19th century mansion in County Durham, has been transformed into a 61 room, 5* hotel. The Hall, has been restored and modernised to include 8 air conditioned meeting rooms with views overlooking the 375-acre estate, and a banqueting suite for up to 250 guests. The development also includes an 18 hole championship golf course and one of the largest spas in the country.

 

Von Essen have launched the 5* ‘Forbury Hotel’ in Reading. Meetings and event spaces include a 30 seat cinema, the Cellar Dining Room for boardroom meetings and private dinners for up to 14 people. The Cerise brasserie, which has a garden and can seat up to 100, and the Library which can be hired as a private meeting room or as a lounge for a drinks reception. The 23 bedroom hotel can also be hired exclusively.

 

Three new contemporary meeting spaces have opened at the Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre on London’s South Bank. The flexible rooms can accommodate from 15-150 people. The new rooms all have high ceilings, integrated AV and original artwork and have been constructed with the environment in mind incorporating solar ventilating chimneys, solar panels to heat water and recycled rain water to flush the toilets.

International

 

 

The Leading Hotels of the World is pleased to announce that it has recently added the following new member hotels:

Scheduled to open early this summer, the Lotte Hotel Moscow is located in the heart of the financial and shopping districts of the city, to the west of the Kremlin and Red Square, and approximately 45 minutes from Sheremetyevo Airport. The newly built hotel will feature 304 guest rooms and suites, with clean-lined contemporary styling, spacious seating areas and generously sized marble bathrooms. Guests of the Club Floor are entitled to additional privileges, such as express check-in and check-out; access to the Club Lounge where they can enjoy buffet breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea; use of a small office with computer stations, free Internet, a scanner and printer; two meeting rooms; and a library. Renowned French chef Pierre Gagnaire oversees the gourmet restaurant Les Menus. The serene Mandara Spa is complemented by an indoor pool, fitness centre and health club. The hotel also has six rooms for conferences and banquets.

History fairly breathes in the walls of the Hotel Monasterio in Cusco, Peru. Created from what a 16th-century monastery was built on ancient Incan foundations, it is today a sophisticated, intimate hotel where guests will find the finest in 21st-century comfort. Set in the main archaeological area of the city, it is just two blocks from the Plaza de Armas, the central square. Guest accommodations are in 126 rooms and suites, with unique architectural features, and period pieces of furniture and artwork. Dining venues include Illariy Restaurant, serving Peruvian and international cuisine; El Tupay, the former refectory, serving buffet breakfast; and the Lobby Bar, for tea cocktails and canapés by the fire. Among the nearby recreation options are horseback riding, paragliding, hang gliding, mountain biking and whitewater rafting.

Located in the residential Malecon de la Reserva section of Lima, Peru, the Miraflores Park Hotel, with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, is distinguished by its subtle elegance and excellent service. Guest accommodations are in 82 rooms and suites, with either city or ocean views. Leisure and business travellers alike will find state-of-the-art facilities that create the perfect environment to serve as a base for exploring the capital city. Dining choices include Mesa 18, offering modern cuisine and Peruvian specialties; The Observatory for buffet breakfast; and Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde Bar. There is a rooftop swimming pool, as well as the Zest Spa, and a gym. Six banquet rooms are available for conferences and social events.

Set in one of the deepest canyon in the world, Las Casitas del Colca is a hidden gem – a luxury hotel and spa, set in the visually stunning Andes Mountains in southern Peru. It comprises 20 private casitas offering supreme luxury and exclusivity. Each casita features a luxurious bedroom, spacious lounge and a large bathroom, a private terrace and a heated plunge pool. The Curina Restaurant serves Andean à la carte cuisine, using fresh herbs and vegetables from the hotel’s farm; while the Curina Bar is the perfect place to relax over wine or cocktails. Situated adjacent to the free-form swimming pool, the Spa Samay offers a unique menu of revitalizing body treatments inspired by herbs and organic products indigenous to the Andes. It also has a sauna, two single treatment rooms, one double treatment room and a treatment suite complete with a soaking tub.

Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge is located within the walls of Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. As the only hotel located next to the ancient Citadel, it offers the best location for exploring this remarkable city and the surrounding area. Given the ecological and historic sensitivity of its location, the hotel has implemented numerous green practices to protect its local environment. There are two suites and 29 rooms, with amazing views of the mountains, or the interior gardens boasting a variety of local flowers and orchids. Tampu Restaurant serves international and Peruvian cuisines, in warm surroundings of stone and wood; and Tinkuy Restaurant is open for buffet lunch for visitors to Machu Picchu as well as to hotel guests.

 

Jurys Cork Hotel has been officially be renamed The River Lee Hotel, as part of the new brand identity of The Doyle Collection. Rebuilt in 2006, the hotel was designed to take full advantage of its location on the River Lee and its proximity to the city centre so it was obvious that the hotel’s relationship with the river and the city would play an integral role in the choosing of the new name. Each of the 11 properties within The Doyle Collection has been given a name that clearly identifies the hotel and its excellent location. The Group’s design-led properties provide chic boltholes for modern day travellers, as well as stylish bars and restaurants for local consumers and this is no more evident than at The River Lee Hotel. The hotel enjoys spectacular views from both the ground floor bistro and bar as well as upper levels. All aspects of the hotel are tailored to suit the needs of both business and leisure guests.

 

The Doyle Collection has created bedrooms to accommodate every need – all 182 air-conditioned bedrooms feature pillow top beds with duckdownduvets, 4-piece suites and under floor heating in all bathrooms. In–room entertainment is cutting edge – 25 inch LCD TV’s with movies on demand, Sky Sports, hi-fi’s and complimentary hi speed internet access. Business guests can avail of a dedicated meeting room floor with eight meeting rooms all equipped with fully integrated audiovisual technology. The first floor also houses a 24-hour business centre with a dedicated co-ordinator available to assist. The Executive Floor offers more exclusivity with stunning penthouse views and a private lounge providing light refreshments throughout the day. The hotels magnificent leisure centre includes a 20m pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi as well as gym and has played host to many top teams visiting Cork including London Irish and Sale Sharks, and most recently the Irish Senior Rugby squad. While more laid back guests can completely unwind and indulge themselves with a range of pampering treatments in the delightful surroundings of The Urban Spa.

 

Opening in the Spring, Rimini’s Palacongressi, is set to become the largest convention centre in Italy, featuring 42 rooms with a total of 9.300 seats and a 4,700 seat auditorium plus 11,000 sqm of exhibition space.

 

Palma will have a new convention centre, due to open in Autumn 2011. The centre will have a 1,978 seat auditorium, another seating 462 and at least 10 other flexible rooms, plus exhibition halls. It will also have a 4*, 268 bedroom hotel on site.

The Brighton Centre has £1m to invest in improving its public areas.

 

 

To help drive non-match day facilities for what could be the largest banquet and conference facility, Sussex CCC has £8m to develop, this will be phased over 2 years.

 

 

The Hilton Brighton Met this year will refurbish all 75 sea-facing bedrooms. The Thistle Brighton has recently been given a facelift.

 

 

Harrogate International Centre’s current expansion plan will add a further 3,400sqm of space across two additional halls, and this should be completed by Autumn of 2011.

 

 

Center Parcs has won the Green Business Awards for Biodiversity Protection. The Green Business Awards 2009 celebrate innovative, ambitious and effective initiatives by UK businesses for achieving environmental sustainability, and implementing smart business practice.

 

 

The Best Western Keavil House Hotel near Dumfermline in Fife has been recognised for its excellent standards by achieving the Best Western International Quality Award.

 

 

Property company Lend Lease has unveiled plans for a 5,200sqm events venue at retail complex Bluewater in Kent. The £60m Bluewater Events Venue is being hailed as “the next milestone in the evolution of Bluewater”. It aims to complement the existing offer with specialist consumer events housed in a purpose-built venue to provide a year-round, consumer-orientated leisure experience for the 28 million people who visit the site each year. Construction of the project will commence in Spring 2010 with the first events taking place in late 2011.

 

 

Restoration of the Northumberland, a venue that has not been used for the last 70 years, has now been completed. The stunning Grade II listed building has two event spaces perfect for conferences, dinners, awards and product launches.

 

 

Work has got underway on Tate Modern’s £215m re-development. The extension will add a further 5,000m² of gallery space to the iconic London venue, doubling the size of the existing building and boosting its available event space. The £215m project is expected to be completed in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Five million people a year currently visit Tate Modern. The venue’s restaurant, East Room and Members Room are all popular spaces with corporate event organisers.

 

 

In January 2010 – Brook Hotels LTD acquired the management contract for the following three hotels suited for both the business and leisure traveller.  The hotels are as follows: Queensferry Hotel – Queensferry, Edinburgh, Tewkesbury Park Golf & Country Club – Tewkesbury, Madison Hotel – Swindon. They form part of Brook Hotels which has now grown to 19 hotels throughout the United Kingdom, all of which offer great value for money and quality accommodation. With over 1000 rooms in the UK provincial market, Brook Hotels now command a strong presence in both commercial and leisure market.

 

 

Engineers’ House in Bristol has just completed works to expand their facility with the addition of the Clifton Suite. The 170 seat suite boasts the latest in video projection and audio equipment, with in-room multi-media systems to minimise on potential equipment incompatibilities. To ensure that these increased capacities don’t create bottlenecks in the restaurant, Venue Leader Martyn Bowen also increased the seating capacity of the venues restaurant by expanding into areas previously underutilised.

 

 

The Sheraton Grand in Edinburgh is refurbishing all its bedrooms and suites, increasing the number of rooms to 268 and creating an opulent Grand Suite and exclusive ‘club’ floor. The first phase of the work is to be completed by April, with all rooms to be completed by July.

 

 

The first phase of a major refurbishment at the Runneymede-on-Thames Hotel has seen the lobby, restaurant and meeting and event spaces completely transformed. Phase two will add a new pool and tennis courts during 2010.

 

 

The new Mercure Newcastle George Washington Hotel Golf and Spa brings the total number of Mercure hotels in the UK to 32, the hotel is situated on the outskirts of Newcastle Upon Tyne. The property has 2 large function rooms catering for groups of up to 180 delegates and there are seven syndicate rooms for smaller groups.

 

 

Sundial Group has been named No1 performing brand in the BDRC VenueVerdict Awards for customer service at UK hotels and meeting venues. The residential conference centre brand achieved an overall score of 80.8% across its portfolio during 2009. Park Plaza Cardiff was awarded No1 Hotel with an outstanding 90.3% and Maple House in Birmingham claimed the No1 Conference Centre Award. ETC Venues won the VenueVerdict Gold Standard Brand Award for the group with the greatest number of venues achieving the newly launched VenueVerdict Gold Award. 

 

 

The Congress Centre, London has just completed a £4.2m refurbishment.

 

 

Newly formed Akkeron Hotels has acquired eight properties from Folio Hotels which went into administration in 2008. The company hopes to build a port Folio of up to 150 regional hotels across the UK.

 

 

Portugese hotel group Pestana Hotels and Resorts will launch its first hotel in the UK in March. The 4* property in London will offer over 216 bedrooms and 1,500sqm of banqueting and meeting space over 2 levels.

 

 

The Ebury, located close to London’s Sloane Square, has just opened its first floor event’s space.  A stunning room with high ceilings, natural light and walnut wood decor.  It can seat up to 50 guests for dinner or accommodate 100 for a reception.

 

 

International

 

 

Courtyard Basel, with direct access to the most varied water park and spa in Switzerland, “aquabasilea”, welcomes guests beginning March 1, 2010. Located only 15 minutes from the city center of Basel, this is an ideal location for any business or private event. Direct access to “aquabasilea” with 13’000 sqm.  175 spacious and productive guest rooms. All six meeting rooms, with a surface area of 415 sq. m. are well equipped and provide daylight, free Internet access and pre-function areas. Gastronomy at its best is the trademark of the max-restaurant, bar & lounge. Business lounge, lobby great room, Courtyard GoBoard and The 24/7 Market Free shuttle service between hotel and train station Pratteln SBB.

 

 

Hotel Arts in Barcelona has unveiled a modern new meeting space with panoramic views of the city and the sea. Arts 41 offers six separate meeting spaces accommodating up to 200 people.

 

 

The Courtyard by Marriott Stockholm is a new upscale hotel offering 278 bedrooms and 12 state-of-the-art meeting rooms. The spacious bedrooms are amongst the largest in the city and include complimentary high speed internet and free access to the hotel’s fitness centre. The hotel is located in the Kungsholmen neighborhood of Stockholm, within walking distance of the city centre and next door to one of the city’s main metro stations. It is the smart lodging choice whether you are in town for business or visiting one of Stockholm’s many attractions. Access from both Stockholm Arlanda International Airport and Stockholm Bromma Airport is easy and uncomplicated. The hotel’s Björk Bar and Grill offers a casual dining experience centered around well-prepared quality fresh ingredients in a comfortable setting. For meetings and events, the Courtyard by Marriott Stockholm is equipped with 1,000 m2 of Conferencing space consisting of a 380 m2 divisible ballroom, multiple break-out rooms, and ample networking space.

 

The Tivoli Congress Centre is a new central venue in downtown Copenhagen due to open in October 2010. Tivoli Congress Center is located in the heart of Copenhagen within walking distance of Tivoli Gardens, Town Hall Square, the pedestrian shopping streets and the waterfront. Dramatic in architecture and excellently located Tivoli Congress Center is the obvious choice in Copenhagen for conferences, meetings, training courses, AGMs, exhibitions and hospitality events. Measuring over 1,500 m² in area the Congress Hall is a vast expanse with capacity to accommodate 2,500 people.

 

Sol Melia is pleased to announce an agreement to manage the brand new Melia Braga in Portugal, opening its doors in June 2010.

 

The Chedi Milan Hotel is to be re-branded as Radisson Blu Hotel, Milan. Dating from 2007, the property has 250 rooms and is located north of the city centre, close to Milan’s two trade fairs. The conference facilities measure 800sqm and there is a spa and indoor swimming pool.

 

 

The ICC Berlin has been voted the World’s Leading Conference and Convention Centre in the World Travel Awards for the 6th time.

Ricoh Arena has announced plans for a multi-million pound expansion of its events centre in 2010. The £3m expansion will begin in January and is due to be complete before June. Included in the investment is the addition of three halls at the Coventry venue. A 650-seat auditorium and 2,500sqm of events space will be added to the existing 6,000sqm Jaguar Exhibition Hall. The Jaguar Exhibition Hall will also be enhanced by a new entrance, boosting its capacity to 10,000 visitors. Ricoh Arena chief executive Daniel Gidney said the development would allow individual events held at the venue to be self-contained.

 

A hotel company has unveiled plans to build Cumbria’s largest convention centre on the banks of Lake Winderemere. English Lakes Hotels already obtained planning permission in 2004 for a 600 seat venue at its Low Wood property, but is now seeking permission for a new marine-influenced eco design. The £4m Winderemere Convention Centre would have a 750sqm conference hall. The design contains numerous enviromental features, including an innovative heating system that would use ground source heat pumps to extract thermal energy from the lake. The new venue is due for completion in 2012 and will create five full time and 30 part time jobs.

 

Following an investment by Sodexo Prestige of £250,000, HMS Belfast is undergoing an intensive restoration and refurbishment programme and welcomed its first guests in the new catering surroundings just before the New Year. The Admiral’s Quarters are now an exclusive private dining room and conference space, which offers views over the Thames.

 

Jurys Inns is hoping to be named the UK’s greenest hotel group after 29 UK and Ireland hotels have been awarded either a gold or silver from the Green Tourism Business Scheme. The group has just received its 14th Gold award from the GTBS and the remaining 11 hotels to be assessed will all be completed with the aim to achieve gold in all of them.

 

Gary Rhodes has launched a new bar and private dining room at Rhodes W1 in London’s Cumberland Hotel.  The new look art deco Rhodes W1 private dining room is able to cater for 40 for dinners or boardroom lunches. The Ambassador of Slovenia declared the new facility open and introduced many wines from his country.

 

Following the refurbishment of the west wing of its impressive town house location, The King’s Fund is now offering a further nine rooms for hire. The venue is situated in a Grade II Georgian town house overlooking Cavendish Square in the heart of London’s West End. Each room in the refurbished wing maintains its Georgian period features, including decorative fireplaces and cornicing, adding a historic charm and elegance. Large windows mean that all rooms are light and airy while many include stunning views across Cavendish Square. With room capacities ranging from 4 up to 40 theatre style, they are suitable for a wide range of events, from small meetings and product launches to receptions and sit-down dinners. With a total of 29 rooms available, ranging from classic to contemporary styling.

 

 

This Spring, Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa is aspiring to become York’s first five-star hotel. This £20m project revives one of the city’s most iconic buildings – the prestigious railway headquarters – and will set new standards of service and style in one of the UK’s most popular business tourism destinations.

 

 

Anise Restaurant at The Felbridge Hotel and Spa was crowned ‘Best Eating Experience in Sussex’ at a glamorous Sussex Food & Drink Awards 2009/10 dinner on January 28. Over 9000 people voted for more than 300 top quality Sussex food and drink businesses in this fourth year of the Sussex Food & Drink Awards, which is run by Natural PR with A Taste of Sussex to promote and reward the best Sussex producers and the outlets which support them.

 

 

The Apex International (Edinburgh) is one of just 17 properties nationwide to qualify for the VenueVerdict Gold Standard Award, a new quality mark designed to signify the highest standards of service for meetings and events. The hotel has achieved in excess of 80 points in the Overall Performance Index in 2009.

 

 

imago, the leading conference and events business based at Loughborough University, has announced that it has acquired the Compass Hotel Loughborough on New Ashby Road (formerly the Quality Hotel) and its land, approximately four acres. imago is expected to officially be in possession of the hotel on 29th January, as the contract completes.
Under imago’s ownership, the hotel will be refurbished and renamed The Link Hotel, Loughborough. It joins the other venues within imago’s portfolio, including Burleigh Court, the first-class international conference centre; Holywell Park, the versatile day conference centre; plus the extensive conference and sports facilities at Loughborough University.

 

International

 

Dubai’s Burj Khalifa tower was opened officially on 4th January and will soon become the location of the world’s first Giorgio Armani hotel. At the launch of the world’s tallest tower, it was announced that the building’s Armani Hotel is scheduled to open on 18 March. The Armani Hotel, a £925m partnership between Armani and Emaar Properties, will occupy 37 floors of the 160-storey landmark, and will offer facilities including designer shops, spa and lounge. Online booking for the property is due to become available later this month. Armani is also reported to be planning a resort in Marrakech, a villa development in Egypt and further properties in New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and London.