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Good luck to the Meetings and Incentive Travel Awards finalists

The 2020 M&IT Awards finalists have been announced and we’re delighted to see many of our EDGE Venues licensees have made the shortlist.

Here’s a snapshot of our licensees who have made the cut…

Best UK Conference Centre
Best Overseas Conference Centre
Best Venue Group Meeting Product
  • De Vere Venues
  • Hilton Worldwide
  • Marriott International
  • QHotels
  • Radisson Hotel Group

Good luck to you all and to other finalists for what no doubt will be an exciting and rewarding awards ceremony at Evolution London on Friday 28 February.

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Corporate travel buyer budget forecasts at five year high

The number of corporate travel buyers forecasting bigger budgets for the year ahead is at a five-year high, according to annual research conducted by Business Travel Show. 41 per cent of buyers polled said they would have more money to spend on travel in 2020, compared to 33 per cent last year.

The volume of buyers predicting an increase in travel costs was also at a record high (49 per cent compared to 43 per cent in 2018) and there was significant uplift in those expecting to manage more trips (52 per cent compared to 33 per cent).

114 European buyers took part in this year’s Business Travel Show poll, 56 per cent from the UK, 35 per cent from continental Europe and 9 per cent from the rest of the world. 61 per cent of buyers responded control budgets in excess of £1m.

Other highlights from the survey:

  • 45 per cent of buyers polled will have more to spend on accommodation in 2020 – an increase of 16 per cent on 2019
  • 65 per cent are expecting to book more room nights, compared to 40 per cent a year ago
  • 41 per cent will have bigger airline budgets, rising 10 per cent over last year

Business Travel Show group event director David Chapple said: “Last year’s survey showed a downturn in numbers across the board – with fewer buyers predicting airline, accommodation and overall budget increases. This was unsurprising with Brexit on the horizon and businesses holding back on both decision-making and spending. These figures appear to show a return to form and are back on par (if not slightly above) 2018’s statistics, which is very encouraging news for the industry.”

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London hotel rates up 2.6 per cent in November, finds HotStats

London hotels saw a 2.6 per cent increase in average room rate in November, according to the latest data from HotStats.

Rates increased year-on-year in the capital to £186.53 during the month, with occupancy down by 1.5 percentage points to 82.3 per cent.

Across the United Kingdom as a whole, occupancy was 78.5 per cent and average room rate was £123.43 in November.

A spokesperson for HotStats said: “Revenue growth hasn’t been an issue for UK hoteliers this year. It’s driving profit that has them frustrated.

“In a tale that is becoming all too common for the region, RevPAR (revenue per available room) at UK hotels was up in November, but profit against the same time last year was negative. RevPAR grew slightly 0.3 per cent year-on-year, while GOPPAR (gross operating profit per available room) was down 1.8 per cent year-on-year, illustrating the sometimes incongruous relationship between revenue and profit.”

The divergent revenue and profit picture across the UK in November was also seen in Birmingham, where both RevPAR and TRevPAR (total revenue per available room) were up year-on-year, 3.6 per cent and 1.1 per cent, respectively, against a resulting year-on-year decrease in GOPPAR of 1.5 per cent.

Occupancy in the city was higher than in London, at 83.6 per cent, with average room rate sitting at £94.27, almost half that of the capital.

In mainland Europe, hotels are generating revenue and keeping more of it. November marked the third consecutive month of year-over-year GOPPAR gains for hotels in the region.

GOPPAR was up 4.8 per cent in the month over the same time last year, but is still down 1.3 per cent year-to date, indicative of a previously listless profit performance, despite RevPAR that is up 1.2 per cent.

In November, RevPAR was up 4.2 per cent year-on-year, buoyed by a 1.9 per cent increase in average rate and a 1.6-percentage-point uptick in occupancy to 72.5 per cent.

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Is CSR important to you and the venue you use?

It makes sense to use a venue that reflects your company’s CSR philosophy and policies, but do you check this with them before booking your event? It’s important that event organisers make the attendees feel welcome and the attitude and infrastructure of the venue is a part of this. Jacqui Kavanagh, CEO of EDGE Venues, share her thoughts on what to consider for meetings and events when looking at CSR.

Connecting with the community

Many venues undertake initiatives that support local projects. In America, some venues are creating co-working spaces which can be used by community-based groups. Businesses pay to hire the venue in the usual way, but outside these hours the space can be used by specific groups to encourage and develop their education or skills. There are opportunities for event organisers to contribute to these community projects, either through a team-based activity or meeting people in need of mentoring or training.

Charitable programmes

Venues often support local charitable programmes and an event organiser can partner with them to give back to the local area. This can be done through donations, not necessarily monetary, but giving unused food and drink, stationery and other items to refuges, schools and non-profit organisations.

Sustainability

Selecting a venue that is ‘green’ is good for the environment but can also be good for the delegates. Many venues are building ‘green’ features into their properties, solar power to water reduction, rooftop gardens and recycling points.

Using an accessible and inclusive venue

Everyone needs to move around the venue with ease and in most properties ramps and access to lifts is standard. However, some venues use braille text on signage, hearing loop systems, and have trained their staff specially to understand these needs.

Diversity

Many venues have diversity policies in place, but just don’t publish them. You can ask the venue about their diversity programme or check with independent organisations such as the Disability Equality Index.

A purpose-built conference centre will have different facilities to a hotel group or independent hotel or smaller, unusual venue and their CSR programmes with reflect this, so it’s worth asking them for details before booking your event to make sure that their philosophy works well with your company’s CSR code.

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Six Senses to open a hotel in London in 2023

The first Six Senses Hotel will open in the UK at Whiteleys, Bayswater, West London. The building is a former art deco department store, which then became a shopping centre in the 1980s and closed in December 2018.

The hotel will have 110 bedrooms and suites, as well as 14 residences. It will have a lobby bar and lounge, all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen and seating area in the courtyard. The original Grade II façade, central courtyard, dome and internal staircase (modelled on the La Scala opera house in Milan) will all remain. Contemporary art from British artists will be used throughout.

The hotel will have a Six Senses Spa in the style of an old-fashioned London underground station, with fitness area and indoor swimming pool. On the second floor, residents and members will access a social and wellness club and coworking spaces.

Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas was acquired by IHG earlier this year and currently has 18 hotels and resorts and 30 spas in 21 countries.

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Accor announces opening of two Leicester hotels

The hotels are owned by Charles Street Buildings Group and operated by Interstate Hotels and Resorts, which is also an existing Accor partner with multiple hotels across the UK and Europe.

Hospitality group, Accor, has announced the opening of two new hotels in Leicester.

Novotel Leicester and Adagio Leicester Aparthotel will open its doors on 16 January 2020.

The 10-storey Novotel Leicester features 154 guest rooms including executive suites, meeting spaces, a gym and a ground-floor feature bar and restaurant.

The six-storey Adagio Leicester Aparthotel is opening next door to the Novotel with 98 apartments consisting of two person studios and one-bedroom apartments for up to four people.

Each room is equipped with a fully fitted kitchen and housekeeping services are also available.

The hotels are owned by Charles Street Buildings Group and operated by Interstate Hotels and Resorts, which is also an existing Accor partner with multiple hotels across the UK and Europe.

Speaking of the new openings, Thomas Dubaere, COO Accor Northern Europe, said: “I am delighted to be opening both Novotel Leicester and Adagio Leicester in such a prime city location. We have worked closely with the developer of this property to deliver a very high quality building which will bring significant benefits to the city and visitors.”

Karim Malak, CEO Aparthotels Adagio added: “Adagio Leicester is our fifth property in the UK and our second one centrally located in the Midlands region joining the Adagio in Birmingham. We are delighted to partner with Interstate on this dual brand site, in the heart of such a great city.

“The market for apart-hotels in the UK is growing and we are very excited to continue our expansion plans, with other openings scheduled in London and Glasgow over the next couple of years.”

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Andaz Dubai the Palm opens to first guests

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has welcomed the official opening of Andaz Dubai the Palm.

Joining Andaz hotels in top destinations around the world, the latest addition marks the first Andaz-branded hotel in Dubai and the second in the United Arab Emirates, following the opening of Andaz Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi in 2018.

Andaz, Hyatt’s luxury lifestyle brand, is rooted in local culture, immersing guests in elevated sensory experiences that celebrate the uniqueness of each property and its surroundings.

Located in the heart of Palm Jumeirah, the hotel rests on the world’s most iconic man-made island and offers travellers inspiring local programming, reflecting Dubai’s rich culture and heritage.

Andaz Dubai the Palm gives guests access to a private beach, as well as to several of Dubai’s attractions, including the Nakheel Mall, Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach and Mall of the Emirates.

“The bustling Palm Jumeirah island serves as the ideal location for guests to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of Dubai,” said Kifah Bin Hussein, general manager, Andaz Dubai The Palm.

“The hotel is created for the inquisitive traveller.

“Set in a vicinity known for luxury and exclusivity, Andaz Dubai the Palm reflects the city’s eclectic style, showcased through local artist exhibitions and unique culinary offerings.”

Encompassing 217 guestrooms, including 34 suites, and 116 residences, the property incorporates the sights, scents and textures of Dubai into every aspect of the room design.

The ideal space to relax, unwind and entertain, the guestrooms are inspired by the Emirati culture with bespoke artwork and luxury amenities.

The hotel features 31 Andaz Suites, one Terrace Suite, one Prince Suite and one Royal Suite, each made with modern, minimalistic interiors and fitted with premium amenities, including separate living and dining areas, a terrace, a rain shower and a deep soaking tub.

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November London room rates rise as occupancies drop

Room rates in London continued to rise during November, but occupancies were slightly down, according to the latest preliminary figures from data company STR.

Average daily rate (ADR) and revenue per available room (revpar) increased by 1.6% to £158.94 and 1.3% to £136.43 respectively compared to the same month in 2018, while occupancy dropped 0.4% to 85.8%.

The ADR and revpar levels were said to be the highest for any November in STR’s records for the capital.

The CBI annual conference on 18 November helped drive performance, with revpar increasing by 20.2% that day.

A 2.1% increase in new rooms was slightly ahead of the 1.8% rise in demand.

STR will release its full November results later this month.

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Marriott International plans luxury expansion

Marriott International has announced plans to open more than 30 new luxury properties across the globe in 2020 through its portfolio of high-end brands.

The group will utilise its Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St Regis Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels, Luxury Collection, Edition, JW Marriott and Bvlgari brands to grow its presence in the luxury space, saying the move is in response to the growing trend of ‘transformative travel’.

Ritz-Carlton will open properties in Morocco, Japan, Mexico City, Arizona and China, while its hotel in South Beach, Florida is in the final stages of a complete refurbishment. It also expects to launch the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection in June 2020.

Meanwhile, St Regis will introduce hotels in Cairo, Mexico and Dubai and W Hotels will see openings in Nashville, Philadelphia, Toronto, Chengdu, Melbourne, Milan and Rome.

Also in 2020 will be the openings of Edition properties in Reykjavik, Tokyo and Dubai, as well as Luxury Collection hotels in Nashville, Budapest and Hobart in Australia.

Lastly, JW Marriott plans to grow its portfolio to 115 hotels by 2022, with properties set to open in Savannah (Georgia), Orlando and Anaheim, as well as Istanbul, Danang, Nara (Japan), Muscat and Monterrey (Mexico) over the next year.

As a whole, Marriott International has more than 185 luxury properties in its signed development pipeline that could add more than 15 new countries and territories to its portfolio. The group has taken a particular focus in Africa and the Middle East across all of its brands this year, with 19 hotels added.

Tina Edmundson, global brand officer and luxury portfolio leader at Marriott International, said: “Across our luxury brands portfolio, we will continue to incubate innovation and apply fresh thinking, both at the brand level and across our individual hotels, as we seek to be future forward, push boundaries and continue to raise the bar by creating new, unexpected and enriching guest experiences.”

Tony Capuano, EVP and global chief development officer, added: “Our plan to open more than 30 luxury properties in 2020 – an average of about three exciting new hotels per month – speaks to the remarkable momentum that brands such as St Regis, the Ritz-Carlton and Edition have with affluent travellers, our Marriott Bonvoy members and hotel developers around the world. Each year, our luxury portfolio continues to grow in both quality and quantity in strategic destinations around the world.”

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Tips for Greener Meetings

Sustainability is getting more and more important when planning an event or a meeting. Every little change can make a big difference in the carbon footprint of events.

Aranka Sarkozi, Event Consultant from Trinity Event Solutions, shares her 4 top tips for greener meetings:

  1. Pick a Green Venue:  Choosing an eco-friendly venue or hotel, with modern systems and technology will improve your event’s carbon footprint. CSR policies are getting really important, when it comes to making the decision.
  2. Locally sourced food: Logistic is one of the biggest contributors to air pollution. By choosing local food and drinks can reduce this. Also, locally sourced foods are tastier and fresher.
  3. Leftover food: We all know that there is always some leftover food after buffet lunches and refreshment breaks. Choose a venue, which has partnership with local charities. Donate the leftover food to them.
  4. Sustainable activities:  Take your team out for an outdoor activity. Organise planting trees or cleaning beaches. It can give an extra boost to event sustainability.