Right now, things are so bad in the North we feel we don't exist in the business world, and especially within the hospitality and catering industry. Restaurants and pubs are major employers yet there are so many that have closed down in recent years – but the problem still does not seem to be recognised by the government. I feel the main problem is caused by the 2010 … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2013
ScotHot 2013 offers ‘Save and Sustain’ online calculator
Responsible Hospitality Partnership (RHP), in conjunction with Fresh Montgomery, is hosting in Scotland its ‘Save and Sustain’ initiative around next month’s ScotHot 2013 – running from 4-6 March at the SECC, Glasgow. Sponsored by SWR and Beacon, the ‘Save and Sustain’ online calculator enables the show’s hospitality industry visitors to calculate how much money and carbon they … [Read more...]
Millennium & Copthorne: good performance, zero gearing
M & C has reported increased revenue per available room (RevPAR), firm control of costs, and strengthened financial position for 2012. Revenue and headline pre-tax profit increased on a like-for-like, constant currency basis, and hotels achieved good operating profit margins. Highlights for the full year 2012 • RevPAR up 3.9% primarily because of higher average room … [Read more...]
Industry leaders contribute to Passion 4 Hospitality 2013
The Passion 4 Hospitality (P4H) Student Conference 2013 will take place on Monday 11 March at the Victory Services Club, 63-79 Seymour St, London W2 2HF and has been extended from its origins as a student debating competition to become a unique showcase and celebration of talent and career opportunities in the hospitality industry. Distinguished industry leaders are … [Read more...]
Spirit Leased Pubs: one day ‘blitz’ training
Spirit Leased Licensees are being given access to the company’s managed trainers to improve the retail offer in their sports and community pubs. The one day blitz training takes place in the Licensee’s own pub with his team and includes an initial three hour training session, followed by individual coaching sessions with the team members. The pub is then merchandised … [Read more...]
BHA appoints first Marketing and Sales Director
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has appointed Grace Chung as its first marketing and sales director. Ms Chung was formerly Sales Director for leading London hotels during her career to date, most recently Grace for Holiday Inn and previously Hilton, Marriott, Le Meridien and IHG. The BHA, incorporating the Restaurant Association, is the voice for the … [Read more...]
Great Custard Bake-Off for Comic Relief
Do Paul Hollywood’s cream-filled iced buns get your heart racing, or does the sight of Mary Berry’s chocolate roulade make you crumble at the knees? If it does, you can join this Custard Communications initiative and enter the ultimate Great Custard Bake-Off – as well as raise valuable funds for Comic Relief. Think pies, tarts, pastries and sponge and then think custard. … [Read more...]
Accor: sustained growth and solid results in 2012
Accor, the world's leading hotel operator and market leader in Europe, with nearly 3,500 hotels and 450,000 rooms and an extensive portfolio of hotel brands – Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, ibis Styles, ibis budget and hotelF1 – has reported solid results for 2012 at the same time as it begins a period of … [Read more...]
Dawnvale serves up top-notch kitchen for delicious Damson
Greater Manchester-based Dawnvale is proud to have played a significant role in supporting both award winning restaurateur Steve Pilling and Salford City College to create and install one of the UK’s ‘greenest’ and most advanced low-energy commercial training kitchens at the £1m Damson Restaurant overlooking the garden and piazza area of MediaCityUK. The 140-cover Damson … [Read more...]
New hotel for Baxter’s Place, Edinburgh
Chris Stewart Group, Edinburgh plans to develop 1-5 Baxter’s Place, Edinburgh into a 200+bedroom 4-star hotel, and is in the process of selecting a hotel operator for it. Baxter’s Place is located at the top of Leith Walk and to the east of St Andrew’s Square. Sitting within the boundary of the World Heritage Site and adjoining the “St James’ Quarter Development Area”, … [Read more...]
Cider: sales fizzing, market widening
With lager companies now also looking to capitalise on the growth in the UK cider market, it seems that the nation’s desire for this fruity drink shows no signs of losing fizz just yet. Indeed, according to new research from Mintel, three in five adults (60%) now drink cider, significantly up from the previous year’s total of 47%. This progress means that in 2012, a greater … [Read more...]
Domino’s to the rescue
Busy lives can always do with a helping hand and Domino’s Pizza, the pizza delivery expert, has launched an offer that will provide some respite for people who are living life in a hurry: the new Midweek Rescue Service is available between 4pm and 6pm – Monday to Friday – and will see a 50% discount on all orders placed over £15 on pizzas whether they are collected or … [Read more...]
Call for hospital food standards
Call for hospital food standards The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is supporting the new report from Sustain (the alliance for better food and farming), calling for better hospital food with the introduction of mandatory hospital food standards (in England). As part of its Better Hospital Food campaign, the Sustain report called Twenty Years of Hospital Food Failure … [Read more...]
Lessons from study into most ‘relevant’ hotel brands
A recent study by Brodeur Partners looked into the heart of what really matters when it comes to online conversation about hotel choice and has come up with intriguing answers. The Key Findings (see below) are worth all hotels considering carefully and applying to their own business. The study reveals that Hilton, Marriott, and Four Seasons (in that order) have the … [Read more...]
Sheen Falls Lodge acquired by Palladian Hotels
Five star Sheen Falls Lodge Hotel overlooking Kenmare Bay in County Kerry has been acquired by newly-formed Palladian Hotels & Resorts, which is apparently backed by Irish and international investors. Palladian apparently has ambitions to build a portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts in countryside settings across Europe, including the UK and Ireland. Paul Clark, … [Read more...]