Microbiologist calls on hospitality industry to do more following outbreak of norovirus A leading microbiologist is calling on the hospitality and leisure industry to take more drastic action to minimise the risk of customers and staff being infected with potentially harmful microorganisms following a food poisoning outbreak at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow. Dr Richard … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2010
The importance of an effective hotel website
Just about every hotel today has a website. Whether that website is as effective as it might be at generating and capturing sales, advancing marketing aims and communicating the right information about the hotel is an entirely different story. The website is at once the most important lead generator, booking path, marketing apparatus and revenue manager available to the hotel … [Read more...]
Chelsea nightspot marketed on behalf of Administrators
Acting on behalf of Joint Administrators Mark Wilson and Matthew Wild of Baker Tilly, Christie + Co’s London Bars & Restaurants team is marketing the leasehold interest of Diva Beach, the boutique bar and nightclub, located in the heart of Chelsea, London. Situated in Fulham Road, the basement unit has been operating as a nightclub for the past 20 years, with the … [Read more...]
IHG Launches Priority Club Rewards App for Android
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [Lon: IHG; NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announced the launch of the second phase of its mobile app strategy with the global launch of its Priority Club® Rewards app for the AndroidTM. This new app provides customers with the functionality to find and book hotel rooms, check rates and view … [Read more...]
Prominent seafront hotel in Eastbourne sold
Acting on behalf of a private owner, Christie + Co has sold the Hilton & Royal Parade Hotel in Eastbourne, to first-time buyers Dr Ram Aggarwal and his son Ankur, for an undisclosed sum, off a guide price of £2.5 million. Prominently located on Eastbourne seafront, the hotel provides 115-bedrooms with the benefit of extensive public areas, including two sun lounges; a … [Read more...]
Who said customer paging systems are expensive?
When you hand waiting guests a sleek new GuestCall IQ LTD pager, they’re free to wander nearby, or sit at the bar and relax, without worrying about losing their table or missing their food order. You reduce frustration and time spent searching for guests, while customers stay satisfied. GuestCall IQ LTD pagers automatically alert guests who go out of range, reducing pager loss … [Read more...]
Whitbread launches green refurbishment drive
Investing over £7m in carbon and water saving programme Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel and restaurant group, has today announced that as part of this year’s capital investment programme it will be spending over £7m in a major sustainability programme to boost the environmental performance of its hotels, restaurants and coffee shops. The move forms an important … [Read more...]
Bon Voyage, your revenue manager is now on vacation
For some hotels, summer is high season, and no manager would dream of taking a vacation at the height of, well, vacation season. For other hotel markets, though, summer is slow season, and there's plenty of personnel taking personal days and a few weeks' holiday while the weather's warm (as it's often the only time that they can get off!). Whenever key managers take a … [Read more...]
Travelodge secured for St Austell Brewery lodge
Acting on behalf of St Austell Brewery, the brewer and pub operator, Christie + Co has sold the leasehold interest of the 42-bedroom wing of the Victoria Inn & Lodge near St Austell, to Travelodge, the budget hotel operator, for an undisclosed sum. Located in the village of Roche, the Victoria Inn &Lodge is a traditional coaching inn dating back to 1642. The current … [Read more...]
Marmite brings British National Party to its knees
The far-right British National Party is reportedly facing financial ruin after agreeing to pay up to £170,000 in compensation after infringing Marmite’s copyright. Unilever launched Hight Court proceedings after the BNP launched an election broadcast that ripped off the Marmite brand’s ‘Love it or hate it’ strapline. The TV stunt featured party leader Nick Griffin … [Read more...]
Allesley Hotel sold on behalf of Princeton Hotels
Acting on behalf of Princeton Hotels and Investments Limited, Christie + Co has sold the 90-bedroom Allesley Hotel, near Coventry, to Talash Hotels Limited, for an undisclosed sum. Set within a five-acre site, the hotel, which is situated approximately two miles from Coventry city centre and near Birmingham Airport and the NEC, also features a 90-cover restaurant, an … [Read more...]
Travelodge acquires 52 Innkeeper’s Lodges
Travelodge, the UK’s fastest growing budget hotel chain, today announced the biggest transaction in the hotel sector since 2008, by acquiring the leases of 52 Innkeeper’s Lodges (1994 rooms) from restaurant and pub operator Mitchells & Butlers. This deal will boost Travelodge’s estate to 452 hotels and increase its room stock to 30,504 across the UK, Ireland and … [Read more...]
Syon Park’s Waldorf Astoria hotel to open in November
This is the first look at a £60m luxury hotel – complete with its own butterfly house in the lobby – which is due to open in Syon Park in November. Visitors to the Waldorf Astoria will be able to enjoy trout fishing, an ice-cream parlour and a celebrity plastic surgeon will even be on hand if guests would like a discreet nip and tuck. Hilton Worldwide announced on … [Read more...]
Birds Eye looks to kick off frozen food brand war
Birds Eye Iglo is looking to become Europe’s leading frozen food brand following its €805m (£684m) acquisition of Findus Italy from Unilever yesterday. The company says it is aiming to double its European sales over the next three years through its enlarged business. Findus Italy brands, such as Padella, Sofficini and Captain Findus, will be integrated into the current … [Read more...]
Heston Blumenthal ‘range’ being launched by Waitrose
Chef Heston Blumenthal, known for his unusual use of ingredients such as the bacon and egg ice cream, is launching a range of products exclusively for Waitrose the supermarket that uses the chef alongside Delia Smith in its advertising. ’Heston for Waitrose’ range launches in October...more … [Read more...]