Industry News, October 2010

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.