Over the past three weeks, the crisis has severely deepened with over half the worldwide population either confined and/or under lock-down. This has resulted in a virtual standstill of travel, dining and entertainment, which is vastly affecting our industry. Today more than half Accor branded hotels worldwide are closed, likely over two thirds in the coming weeks. One piece of … [Read more...]
Ecuador’s Mashpi Lodge eco-hotel discovers new species of orchid
Luxury eco-hotel, Mashpi Lodge, located deep in the heart of the Ecuadorian Choco ecoregion, is delighted to announce the discovery of a new species of orchid.Named Lepanthes mashpica after its home, the species was found in the protected reserve surrounding the hotel by the Lodge’s dedicated Research & Biology team as part of their ongoing mission to protect and … [Read more...]
UK hotels make 20,000 beds available to front line COVID-19 workers
Almost 200 hotels have made over 20,000 beds available around the UK for NHS staff and other vital workers, following a call from hospitality trade body UKHospitality.Beds in hotels across the country have been provided by hotels of differing size, from national chains to single sites, to help house key workers being deployed to areas of high need.The 20,000 beds have … [Read more...]
Preferred Hotels & Resorts: providing Five-Star help for local communities through COVID-19
Thankfully, as COVID-19 has spread its cloud across the world and impacted few industries as hard as hospitality, hospitality has met the challenge and helped communities to adapt to the pandemic.In a country renowned for warm hospitality, Ireland, The K Club and Dromoland Castle have both extended Irish hospitality to their respective local communities.134 temporary … [Read more...]
The Ritz London confirms sale, and all employees fully protected throughout COVID-19 crisis
Statement from The Ritz London - Monday, 30 March 2020:Following various press reports, we can confirm that The Ritz London has been acquired by a private Qatari investor. The hotel will remain closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. As soon as it is safe, the new ownership together with the hotel’s team look forward to reopening the revolving door, and to the next chapter … [Read more...]
The Ritz London has been sold, on the same day it closes its doors for the first time in 133 years
London’s Ritz Hotel, one of the best known hospitality ‘names’ in the world, was acquired last night by an unnamed buyer. The deal was announced shortly after it closed its doors on Friday, for the first time in 113 years in reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak.The deal with an unnamed Qatari investment fund was revealed with almost no further details by the acquirers legal … [Read more...]
Cairn Group redeploy hotel teams to help care homes
We are delighted to report the following news from Cairn Group showing how our great industry is reacting in times of crisis helping to combat the spread of COVID-19.Catering, laundry and domestic cleaning staff from Cairn Group’s hotels around the UK will be giving a helping hand to the stretched care home sector.The Group has 32 hotels across the UK but also seven … [Read more...]
Chancellor tells the Airlines that feed UK tourism and hospitality no help from Government
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has told UK airlines not to look to the government for help getting through the COVID-19 crisis and to find other forms of funding.In a letter to the UK airline industry yesterday Sunak said the government would only step in as "a last resort". He instead urged airlines to seek to raise money from shareholders. He went on to set out that the … [Read more...]
Intercontinental Hotels Group working this weekend with the Mayor of London to house homeless
The Mayor of London with support from the government and working with Intercontinental Hotels Group has secured 300 hotel rooms to enable Londoners sleeping rough to self-isolate.Londoners sleeping rough will now be provided with vital protection from COVID-19 as the Mayor’s team works with IHG to block-book rooms in London hotels.Through the weekend rough sleepers who … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson on COVID-19 “never seen anything like it in 92 years”
To gain perspective on the current impact on hotels from the global COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest hotel group in the world, Marriott, is worth taking some notice of. In a statement to the press Marriott Worldwide CEO Arne Sorenson said: “In terms of our business, COVID-19 is like nothing we’ve ever seen before, and for a company that’s 92 years old, that’s borne witness … [Read more...]
Spanish hotels being converted into emergency COVID-19 care facilities
The four star 360 bedroom Gran Hotel Colon in Madrid last Thursday morning closed to guests and opened for nurses and doctors, many of the doctors are young and not yet fully qualified. Wearing face masks doctors and nurses now welcome patients daily as the hotel has been converted to a care facility for people suffering with milder cases of COVID-19.Regional government in … [Read more...]
Macdonald Hotels emerge as hospitality heroes
Yesterday we wrote about the early emergence of heroes and villains in hospitality, while some heroes are looking after the interests of their colleagues and peers, Britannia Hotels made employees immediately homeless.We are delighted this morning to highlight a new hero emerging, Macdonald Hotels. In direct response to the situation of Britannia Hotels making some of their … [Read more...]
Hospitality heroes and villains emerge in COVID-19 pandemic
In times of difficulty many people struggle, some emerge as heroes, helping others as best they can, and others show their true colours. The current COVID-19 pandemic is no different.HEROESWe would like to start by applauding some of the heroes already identified doing what they can to aid others. Hospitality Action, Only a Pavement Away, Chelsea FC, GG Hospitality, … [Read more...]
Football Hoteliers aid front line NHS staff through COVID-19 pandemic
We have already reported on hotels looking at making beds available to the NHS for patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Best Western Great Britain, the largest independent hotel group in Britain, has already said it can offer its numerous sites across the UK as temporary hospitals.There are many other hotels and hotel groups looking to provide similar services and … [Read more...]
