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THE ROOM REPORT ➔


ACTE UPDATE


BRIAN DONNELLY ACTE BOARD DIRECTOR


Macdonald's Windsor addition


Hotel design and decor is by award-winning designers Amanda Rosa Interiors – whose previous projects include Farnborough's Aviator Hotel and the Malmaison Hotel Group – and incorporate classic interiors with a con- temporary edge. Venues for meetings and events include the Castle Suite, which accommodates up to 150 delegates, the St Georges Suite for up to 70, and two smaller boardrooms hosting up to 25 delegates each. Breakout sessions can be held in


MACDONALD Hotels and Resorts unveiled its newest property in Windsor this September, a contemporary townhouse specialising in corporate events for up to 150 delegates. The luxury hotel, whose


Georgian facade fronts a mainly new-build property, is located in the heart of the historic town,


ST PANCRAS' RENAISSANCE


THE St Pancras Renaissance Hotel has announced its official opening date as May 5, 138 years after the original Midland Grand Hotel opened in 1873. Lovingly restored through a £150million renovation, the 245-room gothic-Victorian hotel consists of the historic St Pancras Chambers which will house 38 Victorian bedroom suites, and Barlow House, the newly created 120,000 square foot extension that will feature original artwork and con- temporary design. Diners can step back in time at The Booking Office Bar & Restaurant – built into the original ticket office – or the Celebrity Chef restaurant and bar, occupying the original entrance hall and coffee room. The hotel will also house a 350-capacity ballroom, a private club, a barber’s shop and a luxury spa including a swimming pool.


opposite the town’s castle and Guildhall and ten miles from Heathrow Airport. Its 120 guestrooms fall into five categories including Classic ensuite rooms, Executive rooms, Feature rooms and Suites, the latter with balcony views of Windsor castle and separate lounge areas.


two additional syndicate rooms, each for up to ten delegates, while the open-plan Caleys Lounge features a cocktail bar and can host up to 90 people for seated events. There is complimentary wifi internet throughout the hotel and creative refreshment breaks from Simply Fresh Food. Caleys restaurant specialises in Scottish beef, lamb and wild white fish dishes, plus a growing range of organic food and drink.


CORINTHIA'S LONDON FLAGSHIP


CORINTHIA’S take on a 21st century grand hotel opens next March in the shape of the Corinthia London, its flagship hotel, in the capital's Whitehall Place. The building opened in 1855 as


the Metropole, with seven floors and 500 bedrooms. The façade, ballroom and columns in the restaurant have all been retained and it will operate with far fewer, larger and more sumptuous guest bedrooms as a 294-room luxury hotel, meetings and spa complex. The ground floor has a 200-


cover British Grill and brasserie, the 200-cover Massimo restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine in an impressive room with seven- metre-high ceilings designed by David Collins, and the Bassoon Bar. There is also ample lobby space for classic afternoon teas. Two of the largest meeting rooms are here too – the 180-seater Ballroom and the 100-capacity Court Room, both with natural daylight. The rest of the meeting space is found on the mezzanine level: six boardrooms for up to 20 people and another


for 50, all equipped with video- conferencing technology. There are 11 luxury apartments


on the first floor serviced by the hotel, while the hotel guest rooms are large at 45 square metres, and provide free wireless internet access, 40-inch flatscreen TVs, coffee makers, walk-in closets, openable windows and views over a garden terrace, the Thames or Trafalgar Square. Large bathrooms are in grey Carrera marble. There are 45 suites, including seven themed suites on the seventh (top) floor. Rates start at £275 for standard rooms, £465 for deluxe and the top suite is around £15,000. The Espa facility spans three levels from the basement up, covering some 2,140 square feet and includes a Daniel Galvin hairdresser, spa café, 15 treatment rooms and large gym. Corinthia believes the hotel’s location, bedroom size and restaurant offering will help sell the property. The general manager is Matthew Dixon, formerly of The Grove in Hertfordshire.


ACTE has a lot planned for 2011, and I'm particularly excited about our motto: Be Smart. Be Hip. Be Seen. Be Smart: we want business travel industry professionals to actively pursue knowledge. In 2011, ACTE will take its education to new heights by adding an initiative called Around the World in 80 Hours, which is designed to bring students, travel buyers, and other executives right to the markets they are most interested in. We are also launching an Index that will let travel departments benchmark themselves against other leading programmes on a monthly basis. Be Hip: we want our stakeholders


to be on the leading edge of the industry, driving its future and growth. So in 2011 we are adding a few initiatives to push that forward, including an Angel Investor Lounge, designed to bring together the best ideas in travel with the key investors who can help bring them to life, and a new honor called 3 under 33, which will showcase the leading young minds in business travel. Be Seen: while most professionals


may associate ACTE primarily with its educational content, our networking opportunities at all of our events and through our member directory is just as important. Next year will offer new ways for our stakeholders to meet, talk, and get things done, including a partnership with Business Travel Market, which will reshape ACTE's already successful TransACTE, and a Consultants Corner, where ACTE will offer certification to the industry's leading consultants. It has been an honor for me to take


on the role of ACTE's European Board of Director over the last three years, and I am thrilled with the direction it is heading in. While I am running again to continue as Europe’s representative on the ACTE Board of Directors, I would like to thank everyone who has been involved with ACTE during my tenure – from regional staff, to the volunteers, committee members, members, attendees and sponsors. I believe in the power of volunteer-led organisations and encourage anyone interested in advancing business travel to join us as we push forward towards the future.


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