A team from Westminster Kingsway College has emerged triumphant from the 2013/14 Brakes Student Chef Team Challenge live cook-off final, held as part of Hotelympia on 28 April. In front of a panel of eminent judges, the winning students beat off fierce competition from seven other outstanding college teams. Farnborough College of Technology came a close second, and South … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2014
Pubs proving popular for investors returning to sector
Canny City investors are building funds to buy up surplus pubs in prime areas of the South as the hospitality sector emerges from three decades of doom and gloom. That’s according to Colliers International hotels director Peter Brunt, who said the fast-recovering sector was now being seen as a prime investment territory. Values to rise with growing operating … [Read more...]
March record for Manchester hotel occupancy
New hotel occupancy data – supplied by STR Global Ltd and released by Visit Manchester – shows that Manchester city centre achieved its strongest March on record with the average reaching 81%. This represents a 4% rise on March 2013 figures (77%) and a 7% rise on the March average from the years 2000-2013 (74%). Impact of Event + Conference activity A 98% occupancy … [Read more...]
New Forest’s The Penny Farthing hotel on the market
Freehold The Penny Farthing, currently rated #1 Lyndhurst hotel on Tripadvisor, is on the market for the first time in 21 years. The current owner, Mike Sarqui, has instructed leisure property specialists Fleurets, who are marketing the hotel from a guide price of £1,590,000. “The property is situated in the heart of the New Forest National Park and is a profitable, well … [Read more...]
Hotelympia’s 2014 Innovation Award Winners revealed
A 100% natural, frozen fruit tea; a revolutionary system that perfectly prepares 1,000 cocktails per hour; an intuitive in-cup blender for indulgent frappes and smoothies; and a unique, portable self-stabilising table – the winners have been unveiled in Hotelympia’s standard-bearing Innovation Awards. The four most groundbreaking new products in the categories of Catering … [Read more...]
The Kings Head appoints Executive Chef Wayne Sullivan
The Kings Head in Cirencester has appointed its Executive Chef. Wayne Sullivan will be overseeing the overall culinary direction of this brand new hotel when it opens its doors to the public in the summer of 2014. Working alongside The Vineyard Group’s Michelin starred Executive Chef Daniel Galmiche, Wayne will lead the kitchen brigade and manage all aspects of the hotel’s … [Read more...]
Sample a Titanic Beer and Brand
For details of how to start serving these extraordinary beers to your customer's including samples click here … [Read more...]
Accor uses digital technology to welcome guests
Accor is introducing the worldwide implementation of a digital solution that revolutionises guest welcome in its hotels. The objective is simple: use digital technology to offer customers an unprecedented, personalized welcome. Guest welcome is less devoted to administrative formalities, making the hotelier entirely available to greet guests, cater for their individual needs or … [Read more...]
Malmaison Birmingham welcomes new manager and big changes
With the strapline ‘dare to be different’, the Malmaison chain of hotels is renowned for shaking things up. Following the promotion of its previous manager, the hotel has welcomed a new figurehead from the De Vere hotel chain, who is ready to take Birmingham’s stand out boutique hotel to the next level. Damian Goom has already started to implement exciting changes at … [Read more...]
Palladium Hotel Group introduces ‘VIB’ Smart Bracelets
Palladium Hotel Group has announced its latest high-tech gadget with the introduction of smart bracelets, or the ‘VIB’ (Very Important Bracelet), which will be available to all guests staying at Ushuaïa Ibiza Beach Hotel and the new Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza, opening this summer. No money, no keys The innovative VIBs mean guests do not have to carry money or worry about … [Read more...]
Caterlink + School Food Plan launch best practice tool
The Caterlink Foundation has partnered with the School Food Plan to launch a new best practice online platform for primary and secondary schools. What Works Well is an online hub dedicated to helping schools share ideas and practical tips on how to create an effective and inspirational food culture. With the support of The Caterlink Foundation – the charitable arm of state … [Read more...]
Boom Bites wins Culinary Product Development Challenge
After months of hard work, on Wednesday 23 April SuperBoom were declared the winners of Automatic Vending Association’s 2014 Culinary Product Development Challenge, with their highly innovative healthy snack, Boom Bites. Aimed at gym users, Boom Bites, developed by students at University College Birmingham (UCB), are a low calorie two-in-one combination of fruit and oats. They … [Read more...]
New Coconut Water rehydration drink hits UK
A new rehydration drink powered by coconut water and naturally containing all five essential electrolytes has been introduced to the UK market. Targeted at the booming coconut water market and wellbeing beverage sector, Coco5 is a highly backed brand, developed by a team of top American professional sports medicine and nutrition experts and is one of the fastest growing … [Read more...]
Record Results for Chip Week 2014
Chip Week 2014 (17-23 February) received massive support, achieving an incredible £5million worth of coverage and reaching over 163 million consumers. In the run up to, and during the Week, Potato Council’s Chip Skills Programme actively supported chip shops across the country, encouraging businesses to make the most of the lucrative platform. At a time when chips were being … [Read more...]
ME London appoints Juan Asín as General Manager
Juan Asín has been appointed the General Manager of ME London, bringing 20 years of experience in the hotel industry to the team, having held a number of senior posts, both with Meliá Hotels International and with other major companies, such as Park Hyatt and Westin, in London and abroad. Alex Hugot, VP of ME by Meliá, said of the appointment: ‘Juan is one of the very … [Read more...]