Industry News, April 2010

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.