Industry News, June 2010

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.