THE REVIEW ›› THE ROOM REPORT Travelodge ups the ante
TRAVELODGE is embarking on a charm offensive this summer, highlighting a range of develop- ments and launching its biggest advertising campaign to date. The budget hotel group has
invested £57million in refurbishing properties, installing new Travel- odge Dreamer beds in all its UK locations by September, giving 9,000 members of staff new customer training and cutting wifi charges at its properties to £3 for 24 hours after an initial 30 minutes of free access. A £25million advertising campaign has been launched – marking the company’s return to TV screens after a four-year absence – communicating the fact that over 80 per cent of its hotels will have been modernised to feature a new look by the autumn. “We’ve expanded from our
traditional roadside locations and now have more than 500 hotels. We’ve been investing a million pounds a week in modernising our hotels and we’re installing more than 37,000 new Travelodge Dreamer beds,” says Peter
IN BRIEF IN BRIEF
• XXXXXXXX Xxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx
Gowers, Travelodge chief executive, pictured above. “Our continuing expansion into key city centres, our new more modern look and actions to slash the cost of wifi access are all part of our ongoing journey to become Britain’s favourite hotel for value,” he adds. Travelodge is adding 15 new
hotels in 2014 including city centre properties in London, Glasgow and Southampton.
A new flagship Travelodge opened in Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens district in the spring. The 157-room hotel represents an £11million investment, taking the group's portfolio to 16 hotels in Greater Manchester and 513 in total across the country. Other new locations for the
group in 2014 include Southport, Christchurch, Llandudno and Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
FIRMDALE ADDS LONDON HOTEL
FIRMDALE Hotels has opened its eighth property in London, the Ham Yard Hotel in Soho, featuring 91 guest rooms and 24 apartments. The three- quarters of an acre site incorporates a tree-lined pedestrian thoroughfare flanked by a restaurant, bar and 13 speciality stores. The hotel itself has a drawing room, library, bar, gym, spa, 188-seat screening theatre, an original 1950s bowling alley and a rooftop garden. The Ham Yard Bar and Restaurant serves "simple dishes showcasing the best of British produce". Guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the central courtyard or the London skyline, and granite and oak bathrooms. Rates start from £360 per night.
HILTON LAUNCHES CURIO BRAND
• XXXXXXXX Xxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xxxx xx
• THE Puma Hotels group has rebranded as the Hotel Collection as it focuses on the strengths of its individual properties, a diverse portfolio of 21 hotels across the country. The group, which includes city centre locations and rural retreats from Scotland to the South West, comprises over 2,800 guestrooms and 220 meeting rooms. “The new name refl ects our desire to build upon our successful strategy to focus on the strengths of the individual hotels, many of which are iconic properties, well known in the market in their own right,” says the group’s CEO, Fredrik Korallus. “Since taking over management of the collection, we have achieved strong revenue growth predominantly driven by the resurgence in the meetings and events market.” The group has previously been managed by Spanish company Barcelo Hotels & Resorts and started life as Paramount Hotels.
• SERVICED apartment specialist SACO is adding to its London portfolio with the opening of new properties in Covent Garden and Marylebone this summer. It has also added to its presence in Aldgate, Hammersmith and Canary Wharf. SACO Covent Garden, in Arne Street, is now open, featuring a range of one and two bedroom apartments plus a three-bedroom penthouse. The new Marylebone property opens in Gloucester Place in late August, comprised of eight studio and one-bedroom apartments. In Aldgate, SACO has taken on two new properties – One Commercial Street and Altitude – totalling 20 new apartments in the last six months. In Canary Wharf it has added ten new apartments and in Hammersmith a further seven.
HILTON Worldwide has launched a new hotel brand, Curio, a collection of distinctive four and five-star properties designed for guests “who seek local discovery and authentic experiences”. It is the hotel group’s 11th brand
and its first members include the highly anticipated SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino (pictured), plus properties in Houston and Portland. “Our customers and owners have
expressed strong interest in a brand from us that includes hotels
that can retain their unique identity but also deliver the many benefits of our system, including our Hilton HHonors guest loyalty programme,” says Christopher Nassetta, president and chief executive officer of Hilton Worldwide. He continues, “That desire, combined with the current size of the independent hotel market and demand for differen- tiated hotel stays around the world, made for the right timing for this launch.”
• ASIAN hotel group Dorsett Hospitality International has opened the Dorsett Shepherds Bush, London, its fi rst property in Europe. Set within a grade II listed building – a former cinema – the seven-storey hotel has 317 Chinese- inspired guestrooms, including 24 suites. Guests staying in Executive category rooms have access to an Executive lounge with complimentary breakfast and wifi access. The hotel's two restaurants serve contemporary Asian cuisine, while there's also a business centre, three meeting rooms and spa. Opening rates start from £123 per night.
42 THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76