As London looks towards hosting what is set to be the first ever sell-out Paralympic Games, hoteliers aim to replicate the successes that occurred during the Olympic period. TravelClick, leading hotel market intelligence provider, looks back at how the market fared during the Olympics and, using its forward-looking data, how hotel performance looks for the upcoming Paralympic … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2012
New Wave range and offer extended
Villeroy & Boch are offering an extra 10% off any orders* of their popular NewWave collection until the 31st January 2013. The NewWave line, recently extended, includes original design concepts, presenting fresh opportunities for innovative serving concepts. The collection encompasses a selection of tableware, including party plates, antipasti plates, salad bowls, dip bowls … [Read more...]
David Lloyd Studios to boost local economy – and hospitality?
David Lloyd Leisure is bringing its expertise to the high street with the launch of David Lloyd Studio, giving fitness fans flexible access to exercise and nutritional services – the first initiative of its kind by a major health and fitness operator in the UK. Rob Beale of David Lloyd Leisure observed: “We are...delighted that our planned investment for David Lloyd … [Read more...]
Flintshire Real Ale Trail success: a model for others?
Saturday 1 September will be a particularly busy day for 10 Flintshire pubs, who have joined forces to their mutual benefit and, no doubt, to the benefit of hotels and guest houses in the area. Take a look: with imagination and co-operation, this could be a model for venues in many parts of the country. Brain wave of the Flintshire Tourism Association The Real Ale Trail … [Read more...]
Guide to help destinations win visitors with access needs
To coincide with the opening of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, VisitEngland has launched “Winning More Visitors” – a new online guide designed to help destinations attract more visitors with access needs by providing access information on their websites. £2 billion annual spend Visitors with access needs, and their companions, spend over £2billion a year in England, … [Read more...]
Job of the Week, Regional HR Manager Bar Company
REGIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER – LONDON & SOUTH EAST A great opportunity has arisen for a driven Human Resources professional to join this highly successful thriving leisure business. As Regional Human Resources Manager Manager you will join a team of three regional Human Resources Managers reporting to the Human Resources Director to work in a region covering … [Read more...]
Controversial Vauxhall Towers to include hotel
Communities secretary Eric Pickles has approved plans for two high-rise towers in the Vauxhall Nine Elms area of London, following a public inquiry. The proposals for the mixed-use development on a site close to the Vauxhall transport interchange include two towers of 40 and 32 floors, providing 291 flats, including 58 affordable units. The plans also include shops, … [Read more...]
Shard restaurants line-up
Sellar Property Group has announced the international operators who will provide three restaurants and two bars in London’s iconic Shard tower: the 30,000 square foot space includes a triple height atrium with spectacular views across London, and will enjoy a separate entrance as well as express lifts to speed guests up to their destinations. Aqua Restaurant Group will … [Read more...]
SRA to judge Sustainable Restaurant of the Year
In an initiative that should bring welcome publicity and profile to sustainability in restaurants – see Raymond Blanc below – the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has agreed to put the sustainability of the UK’s top restaurants to the test, as they battle it out to be crowned Sustainable Restaurant of the Year. The UK’s top 100 restaurants, as voted for by the … [Read more...]
St Austell Brewery adds to pub portfolio
Award-winning Cornish brewers, St Austell Brewery, has announced the acquisition of five new pubs from Enterprise Inns: The Albion in Bristol, the Blue Ball Inn in Exeter, the George Hotel in Plympton, the Rose & Crown in Yealmpton near Plymouth, and the Cornish Arms in Tavistock. This brings St Austell Brewery’s portfolio to 173 across the south west, and follows a … [Read more...]
Ember Inns joins pub ‘food to go’ movement
Pubs offering a ‘food to go’ or ‘takeaway’ service have, until recently, been rare. No longer. And the latest to offer this service is Ember Inns – which joins Mitchells & Butlers' brands that already offer a takeaway service, including Toby Carvery, Crown Carveries and Harvester. Ember Inns and Ember Pub & Dining will now allow guests to enjoy classic pub food in … [Read more...]
Chef’s Recipe of the Week, by Martin Wishart
This week’s recipe of the week is Oriental Pork from Martin Wishart and courtesy of www.greatbritishchefs.com Having trained under and worked for Albert Roux, Marco Pierre White, Charlie Trotter and Michel Roux, Jr, Martin Wishart has two acclaimed restaurants: Restaurant Martin Wishart in Edinburgh and Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond, with Edinburgh brasserie The Honours in … [Read more...]
APEX Hotels and QMU to provide ‘real life’ experience for students
Apex Hotels, in partnership with Queen Margaret University (QMU) in Edinburgh, has developed a ‘live centre for hospitality excellence’. The initiative will provide QMU students on the BA (Hons) International Hospitality & Tourism Management Degree with an enhanced level of practical experience. From this Octobert, 32 students will undertake three practical units at Apex … [Read more...]
The Mayor’s Thames Festival 2012: opportunity or threat?
The Mayor's Thames Festival is one of Europe's most spectacular free festivals and in its sixteenth year will coincide with the closing weekend of the Paralympic Games to celebrate the end of an incredible summer for London. And, once again, the Hospitality industry has an opportunity to play its part – provided it plans in advance. With over 800,000 Londoners expected in … [Read more...]
Barbecue menu at The Deck 115% up – despite weather
Summer has eluded us this year, but sales of the new barbecue menu at The Deck on London’s South Bank have defied the weather. The latest food fashion for sizzling, outdoor flavours has seen The Deck take the art of barbecue catering to new heights, resulting in a sales increase over the ‘summer’ months of 115% on last year. The weather has been blamed by many for poor … [Read more...]
